Body found near car in Des Plaines River

A car and a body were found a short distance away from each other Sunday in the Des Plaines River in the western suburbs.

The 23-year-old was identified as Jacqueline Morales by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy revealed she died by drowning. Her death was ruled accidental.

Officers found a red 2017 Hyundai sedan stuck in ice and snow about 8:15 a.m. in a stretch of river near 419 Fairbank Rd. in Riverside, Riverside police said.

While it wasn’t clear how the car ended up in the river, officers determined it was driven off the road near Ogden and Lawndale avenues in Lyons.

Nearly five hours later, state police and fire crews found a female body in the water under the Barrypoint Bridge, about half a mile away, police said.