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Body of fleeing motorist recovered in Lake Nipissing

Despite repeated requests for him to get out of the water, he swam further from shore until emergency personnel lost sight of him
nipissing motorist swimmer 1 Rob Cochran
Police searched Lake Nipissing for fleeing motorist. Courtesy Rob Cochran.

The Special Investigations Unit is reporting that the body of the 20-year-old man who went missing Tuesday in Lake Nipissing was recovered Wednesday afternoon by the OPP dive team.

The date for a post-mortem examination has not been announced.

According to an SIU release, at approximately 5:50 Tuesday evening North Bay police officers went to the main Street West and Memorial Drive area after getting a report of a vehicle being driven erratically.

Prior to police arrival, the vehicle became involved in a single-vehicle collision in the area of Jet Avenue and 10th Ave. Both occupants of the vehicle fled on foot, with the 20-year-old male driver running toward Lake Nipissing. 

When police, fires services, and EMS arrived on the scene, the man ran into the lake. Despite repeated requests for him to get out of the water, he swam further from shore until emergency personnel lost sight of him.

A witness at the scene told BayToday that the man was yelling for help when he disappeared underwater.

See: SIU says man who tried to escape police by swimming is missing

And: Motorist flees into Lake Nipissing after collision