6 months ago
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Police say 19-year-old Dustin Evans was driving to a friend's house near the small town of Crossett when he drove his car into a flooded area.
Ten feet of flood waters covering a mile of Ashley Road 293 Road continue to make rescue efforts complicated for crews searching for the missing teen.
"The elements are making it extremely difficult, although there's no rain in the forecast now, it's just the cold weather that's making it very difficult," said Sheriff David Johnson.
Deputies say the only thing they've been able to find in the murky waters is Evans' car. Meanwhile, investigators continue to piece together what may have happened to the teen.
"Our investigations indicate that he was at a New Year's party with a large group of friends, there was attempts to keep him from driving away to no avail," said the sheriff. "[Evans] was able to leave the party. He stated that he was going to a friend's house, this road would take him close to the friend that he was going to spend the night with, and we feel like he got into a minor traffic accident."
Johnson says Evans drove away from the accident scene and into the flood water. When rescuers recovered his car, the back driver's-side door was opened which leads them to believe Evans may have tried to escape.
"We've been doing dragging, pull-operations, searching woods, a little bit of everything," said Harold Pennington, chief of Crossett Rescue Unit.
For three days, 150 search volunteers have hoped for the best. Among them are friends and family members who were too upset to speak on camera to Today's THV.
As for police, they say they won't give up their search until Evans is found.
If you have any information, call the Ashley County Sheriff's Department at
