Another is still missing after their car crashed into N. Umpqua River

A 20-year-old Oregon State University student was found dead Tuesday afternoon in the North Umpqua River, and a fellow student remained missing.

A body recovered in the river was tentatively identified as Quinn Do Truong of Tigard. The Douglas County medical examiner will do a positive identification.

Truong and fellow OSU student Jeffrey Bernard Schmidt, 22, of Medford, were reported missing Monday when they didn’t return to Corvallis from a function at Diamond Lake over the weekend. According to the Oregon State Police, Schmidt and Truong were seen in a tan and red 1997 Jeep Wrangler early Sunday afternoon, driving east on Highway 138.

The vehicle was recovered from the North Umpqua on Tuesday with Truong inside. Schmidt is still missing.

The search along Highway 138 and the river was halted by darkness Tuesday evening.

According to the Corvallis Police Department, missing-person reports were filed Monday after the two students failed to return Sunday from a sorority-fraternity gathering at Diamond Lake Lodge. Schmidt belongs to Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Truong belonged to Delta Gamma sorority.

A search was conducted throughout the area Monday afternoon and evening. Then, about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Douglas County deputy spotted skid marks and broken branches on Highway 138, near milepost 48. The Wrangler apparently went off the highway and down a steep embankment into a river swollen with the recent storm waters and flowing fast.

Search-and-rescue workers focused on the area and found the vehicle Tuesday afternoon.

“We’re very concerned. We’re following the search and rescue very closely, and are in contact with Oregon State Police,” OSU spokesman Todd Simmons said Tuesday.

He added that everyone was hoping for better news, but prepared for something not so good.

Representatives of both Greek houses declined to comment.

Meanwhile, over the weekend the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a total of 14 citations to members of a group of 65 to 70 OSU students at Diamond Lake. The 14 citations were issued to minors in possession of alcohol.