Body recovered from car in East River near Astoria: officials

QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – A body was recovered from a car that was found underwater in the East River near Astoria Sunday night, officials said.

Police said they received a call about the car in Rainey Park near 34^th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. Both the FDNY and NYPD responded to the scene.

The NYPD said they first only saw car debris, but after an hour of searching, a 2021 white BMW was located in the water.

Officials said a man’s body was found in the car Sunday evening. Police have identified the man as 24-year-old Martins Gonzales, of Centereach.

Witnesses told police the car was speeding when it struck a fence and fell into the water, officials said. Authorities are waiting for the Army Corp to pull the car from the water.