HPD dive team searching for man who drove van into south Houston bayou

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police have called off the search for the driver of a construction van that went into Brays Bayou in the city's south side.

Police said the driver stole the van minutes earlier from an apartment complex on Cullen near the University of Houston campus. Police said the man drove through fence at that apartment complex. He then barreled through a barricade at Cullen and Macgregor before landing in Brays Bayou. Police said officers were not in pursuit of the driver.

Eyewitnesses told ABC-13 the man got on top of the van. Firefighters responded to the scene and tried to get him to grab onto a rope. Police said the man refused the help, jumped into the water and has not resurfaced.

"You don't see people dying everyday," said eyewitness James Valliere. "I'm sure. It's been an hour now and he ain't came up."

Rescue crews in a raft searched the bayou for more than an hour. An HPD helicopter also searched from above, but the body of the man was not recovered.

"I'm just trying to figure out why he would jump off that van. He's safe as long as he's on top of that van," said eyewitness Leo Rohme.

Police said they will remove the van from the water and continue their search efforts Wednesday.