A Lake County police helicopter hovered overhead as police dogs searched along Deep River Tuesday for a Lake Station teen believed to have been in a vehicle that crashed into the river.
Lake Station Police found a black pickup truck about 4:20 a.m. Monday, submerged in the river near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street. No one was inside.
Family members identified the missing teen as Rodrigo Montes, 18, a senior at River Forest High School.
Saul Montes, Rodrigo’s older brother, said the family home is about four blocks from the river. They thought a friend was dropping him off after a gathering.
“Sunday night, he got a ride home from a buddy,” said Saul Montes. He said Rodrigo’s friend left the scene and went home after the crash.
“Rico seems to be gone. We have no trace, anyway,” he said. Saul Montes said the friend had a broken nose and bruises, but declined to talk to the family.
“So this is totally out of character for him,” he said of his brother. “He wouldn’t not call us, but when we saw his phone go out of service, and he wasn’t answering his phone, we immediately knew something was up,” he said.
Lake Station Police set up a command center two blocks south along the river near 29th Avenue and Wyoming Street, but Police Chief James Richardson said he had no new information.
The Hobart Fire Department’s water/dive rescue team assisted in the search, saying the effort involved multiple agencies under challenging conditions.
His family described Rodrigo as 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 150 pounds. The Hispanic teen had brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen about 10 p.m. Sunday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lake Station Police Department at speek@lakestation-in.gov.
Saul Montes said his parents, Lupita and Delores Montes, were heartbroken and inconsolable.
“I mean, you can only imagine,” he said. Rodrigo was the youngest of four boys who all attended River Forest.
Saul Montes said graduation and college awaited his brother in a few months. Rodrigo loved all sports, especially wrestling, his brother said.
Rodrigo planned to attend Purdue Northwest in Hammond and study construction management.
Mila Soto, 18, Rodrigo’s girlfriend, said his mother contacted her late Sunday to see if she knew his whereabouts.
“And that’s when I started to get worried,” she said.
She went down to the river about 2 a.m., but said everything was dark.
“You can’t see anything and I was by myself,” she said. Soto arrived home about 3:15 a.m. and about 4:30 a.m., she learned the truck was found in the river.
Soto said she’s known Rodrigo since second grade and they’ve been dating for about three years. She said they were looking forward to the prom and graduation and talked about plans after high school.
She said her birthday was on Saturday and Rodrigo attended her family party on Sunday afternoon before leaving for another gathering.
River Forest Superintendent Kevin Trezak said the community hoped for positive news.
“He’s an incredible kid. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rodrigo’s family and friends, and we hold out hope for the best possible outcome during this difficult time.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
