CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. — Calhoun County deputies are asking for the public's help to locate a man whose car was found submerged in the Congaree River.
Officers said Wednesday that 72-year-old Paul Chandler was last seen by his family around 3 a.m. on December 3. Around 8 a.m. that morning, his vehicle was found in the Congaree River at Bates Bridge Landing. That's in an area where Highway 601 crosses the river at the Richland County/Calhoun County border.
Someone who was passing by the area spotted the vehicle and called law enforcement. Multiple agencies responded and were able to pull the empty vehicle from the water. They then spent hours with boats searching the area for signs of the driver. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources used sonar in their boat during the search.
Chandler is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket, blue jeans, and black work shoes.
Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers told News19 on Tuesday he's known Chandler and his family for about 35 years, adding that the missing man would visit Bates Bridge Landing every now and then to fish or relax and watch the water.
Anyone who has seen Mr. Chandler, or may have information regarding his location, is asked to call 911 or 803-874-2741