LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. ( KGET ) — After 50 days, the submerged Toyota 4-Runner belonging to Christina Murphy was found by a diver with the group, Adventures with a Purpose.
He posted the less than 10 minute dive operation on Youtube that’s been viewed over 100,000 times in 22 hours.
Jessica Maxwell raced to the side of the highway after seeing the video.
“She was a very great person,” said Maxwell. “She worked as a nurse. She was my nurse lots of times at the hospital. I’ve known her for a very long time and it’s just a very sad situation.”
Sadness turned into frustration after law enforcement showed up to the submerged vehicle in the Kern River Tuesday, near the Silver City Ghost Town on Highway 178.
They left a few hours later without notice.
“I can see the car right here and the hood’s up,” said Maxwell. “So, it’s definitely noticeable and it wouldn’t take very much to get it out…I don’t understand. To me, I personally think there’s something else going on that’s not being said.”
The sheriff’s office said search and rescue teams deployed a drone and vessels to search the area July 23rd but ended the operation because the danger was too great for their divers. 50 days later, the water level is lower, but it’s the same answer. An email was sent to 17 News about the situation at 4:50 p.m. Tuesday.
9/11, 23 years later: BFD dedicates bench in honor of flight attendant Betty Ann Ong The sheriff’s office contacted 17 News minutes later stating search and rescue will recover the vehicle as soon as conditions improve.
“She served our community for years as a nurse,” said Maxwell. “You know, she deserves to be found, brought out and laid to rest for the sake of her children.”
Christina Murphy worked at Kern Valley Hospital. Her friends say she was a nurse for more than 20 years. She leaves behind 2 children. We reached out the Kern County Sheriff’s Office for more answers.
The office said the parts of the vehicle including the license plate belonging to Murphy were located at 7:33 p.m., on July 22nd. It is an active investigation and there are no further details or photos they can release.
While the investigation continues, the vehicle will stay at the bottom of the Kern River near Highway 178.
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