According to Cherokee County Coroner Dr. Jeremy Deaton four people are confirmed dead, two hospitalized and one still missing after an SUV ran off of a boat ramp and into Weiss Lake at the Leesburg Landing on Tuesday night.

Two people were pulled from the water alive and taken to a Gadsden hospital. At this time authorities are not releasing any information on the victims, or if they are related to each other. Deaton did say that there were no young children involved in the accident.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the landing shortly before 7 p.m., at this time it remains unclear why the vehicle went into the water.

Alabama Power authorities had to shut down operations at the powerhouse on Weiss Lake as recovery efforts were underway.

Several Cherokee County Rescue Squad boats assisted in the recovery operations – in addition to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Leesburg Police and Firefighters, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Investigators, Cherokee EMS, Sand Rock and Tuckers Chapel Fire Department Units, Cherokee County EMA and the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office.

Officials will hold a press briefing at 8:00 Wednesday morning, WEIS Radio News will have live coverage from the scene.

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