A search is underway for a missing Buffalo Lake man whose car was found submerged in a drainage ditch Thursday evening.
At approximately 6:07 p.m. Thursday, Adam Michael Rein, 24, was reported missing to the Buffalo Lake Police Department. He was last seen leaving an establishment in Hector around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Then at about 7:26 p.m. Thursday, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a report of what appeared to be a submerged vehicle in a drainage ditch on 800th Avenue, west of Renville County Road 22 and northeast of Hector. The Hector Police Department and Fire Department, and the Buffalo Lake Police Department also responded.
Upon arriving at the scene, responders saw indications that a vehicle had gone off the road and into the drainage ditch. Although a vehicle could not be seen, a disruption in the current was noticed and it was later verified to be a submerged vehicle.
After recovering the vehicle from the ditch, responders discovered it was unoccupied but determined it belonged to Rein.
A foot and aerial search was conducted Thursday, followed by another search Friday with help from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources using a drone and a boat. The Buffalo Lake Fire Department's water rescue team also participated in the search, as did the Hector Fire Department.
As of 4:35 p.m. Friday, Rein had not been located and search efforts were scheduled to continue.
If you have any information about Rein’s whereabouts, contact the Renville County Sheriff’s Office at 320-523-1161.
