2 Men Reportedly Evading Police Drown in Swollen Creek

Two men are dead after jumping into a flood-swollen Missouri creek, reportedly in an effort to evade police.

Firefighters in north St. Louis County were called to Maline Creek, a Mississippi River tributary, around 11:30 a.m. Friday. The bodies of the two men were soon recovered.

Riverview Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Don Mayse says the men were suspected in a carjacking and were running from police. Mayse says a police officer saw the men jump into the creek. He says both men struggled, went underwater and never resurfaced.

The creek remains unusually high because the Mississippi River and many of its tributaries have been above flood stage for several weeks. Mayse described the creek as above head-level.

Names of the men have not been released.