Police have confirmed that a missing Bakersfield woman has been found dead in her SUV at the bottom of a canal near the Westside Parkway.

69-year-old Faye Ekdahl crashed through two gates after losing control of her car on Coffee Road Monday morning, and Sergeant Gary Carruesco says county search and rescue crews had to almost pump the waterway dry Tuesday before they could find her.

It is not known what caused the accident.

(Photo courtesy of Kern County Fire Search and Rescue)

Kelli Forsch