Bodies of kids, father pulled from Eel River

The bodies of all four members of a Southern California family whose vehicle plunged into the Eel River in Mendocino County have been found.

The body of 12-year-old Siddhant Thottapilly was discovered Monday afternoon, about 6 miles downstream from where the bodies of his sister and father were discovered in their submerged vehicle the day before, the Associated Press reported.

Sandeep Thottapilly, 41, and Saachi Thottapilly, 9, of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County), were found inside their vehicle after about 70 people conducted search-and-rescue efforts in Leggett, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff ’s Office.

Searchers detected a gasoline smell coming from the water about half a mile north of where the family was reported to have crashed, police said. The search effort found a vehicle about 6 feet beneath the water.

A body found 7 miles up the river on Friday was identified Sunday as the 38-year-old mother, Soumya Thottapilly. Her body was located on exposed terrain that had been covered by the river due to a recent storm, police said.

A vehicle was reported submerged in the Eel River on April 6.

Several days later, authorities received reports that the Thottapilly family of four was missing. They were believed to be on vacation traveling on Highway 101 and hadn’t arrived in San Jose when they were expected, police said.