Thai students believed to be in car that crashed off cliff into Kings River

The Thai consulate in Los Angeles is reporting that two Thai students were in a car that plunged about 500 feet off Highway 180 near Kings Canyon National Park into the Kings River.

The Aug. 1 edition of The Nation identified one of the women as Thiwadee Sangsuriyarit, after a friend of Thiwadee posted the information on Facebook. The two students reportedly rented a car to visit Kings Canyon. The friend, identified as Methinee Meeluea, reported she lost contact with the pair after July 26.

According to the consulate, the crash took place on July 26 and Thai officials have been in contact with the California Highway Patrol and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office about the tragedy. The CHP and the sheriff’s office are planning a recovery of the car, but the effort is hampered by fast moving water in the Kings. CHP spokesman Victor Taylor said Friday that he could not comment on the incident.

Officials reportedly learned of the crash when the students did not return to their hotel in Reedley following the outing and the hotel called authorities.

The victims’ families are en route to the scene.

This story was originally published August 4, 2017 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Thai students believed to be in car that crashed off cliff into Kings River."