Nine-month-old baby swept away when car plunged into river found dead days later

A nine-month-old baby boy has been found dead days after he was swept away when the car he was traveling in with his plunged into a river in an early morning car crash.

The tragic crash happened on Thursday May 1 when a young family-of-three in a Lexus sedan careered off the road “down an embankment, and into the Trinity River.” Baby Oliver Cox was "swept away" and “lost in the Trinity River” for five days after the crash according to a news release from the (TCSO).

The mother, 19, and father, 21, involved in the crash, from Shasta Lake, were transported to Trinity General with minor to moderate injuries, reported. In the five days following the tragic crash several agencies assisted with the search for Oliver in the

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A diver from out of the area, who traveled to assist with the search, “located Oliver deceased and submerged in the Trinity River” on Tuesday, May 6, according to the TCSO. His body “was removed from the river" and his family was notified. The TCSO thanked “all the search teams, who assisted in returning Oliver to his family," and added: "our hearts go out to the family and friends of Oliver."

Juan Heredia, the volunteer diver with Angels Recovery Dive Team, shared a it read: "Yesterday was one of the saddest moments of my life. Holding baby Oliver in my arms, still underwater, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. No search has broken my heart the way this one did.

"It will take me a few days to get my head and heart back in order. Even through the pain, I feel at peace knowing I was able to bring baby Oliver back to his parents. Before I left the Trinity River, I didn’t want to leave behind bad memories under the water — so I went back in and hooked up the vehicle too."

Michelle Huskey, Oliver’s aunt, told that the family was returning from a beach trip when the crash occurred. She explained: "He was always playful, always happy to see everybody. He loved his mummy more than anything.”

Michelle set up a fundraising page to help support Oliver’s family following his disappearance and death. A message on the page read: "My brother, his girlfriend and my nephew Oliver were in a horrible car accident. Their car went off the road and plunged into the Trinity River, in the early morning hours May 1st. Unfortunately while trying to exit the vehicle with their 9 month old son, he was swept away with the current!"

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

You can donate to the GoFundMe page by