Body Recovered from Mississippi River Near Bemidji

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A man's body was recovered from the Mississippi River near Bemidji, Minnesota on Friday afternoon after a vehicle left the roadway and became submerged. Emergency responders were called to the scene and the Lakes Area Dive Team was able to recover the adult male occupant, who was pronounced deceased.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of driving near bodies of water and the importance of swift emergency response in such situations. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the vehicle leaving the roadway.

The details

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received a report on Friday just before 4:45 p.m. that a vehicle had traveled northbound on Sunnyside Road, left the roadway, and entered the Mississippi River after going through a residential yard. Bystanders attempted to assist the occupant before the vehicle became fully submerged. Emergency responders arrived on the scene and the Lakes Area Dive Team was called in to recover the lone occupant, an adult male, who was pronounced deceased at approximately 6:30 p.m.

• The incident was reported to authorities just before 4:45 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2026.
• The lone occupant was recovered from the submerged vehicle at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2026.

What’s next

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.