SEARCH FOR STRAY KITTEN ENDS IN DROWNED CAR

SCOTT CITY -- It started as a small-scale effort by two Delta men to rescue two cats but ended with a diving team and a tow truck.

Michael Sweet and Kevin Coomer wanted only to rescue a pair of stray kittens but ended up needing a team of helpers when their vehicle rolled into the Diversion Channel about 8 p.m. Sunday.

The diving team and firefighters from Cape Girardeau responded to the call for help at the Diversion Channel Sunday night.

Since no one was injured, there was no reason to take the risk and attempt to pull the vehicle from the water, Cape Girardeau Fire Chief Dan White said Sunday. Instead, a towing company pulled the car from the water Monday afternoon.

Despite the accident and activity at the boat ramp, Sweet still looked for the kittens, shining his flashlight in the dark Sunday.

"I would still like to find the cats," he said. "They'd be great to catch mice."

Sweet had seen the cats earlier Sunday and had tried to catch them but couldn't. He returned with a friend later in the afternoon, saw them again and went home to retrieve a flashlight.

He returned after dark with Coomer in a car owned by Coomer's father, Kenneth. The two parked the car on the Diversion Channel boat ramp and got out to look for the cats.

Kevin Coomer said he checked to see that the vehicle was in park because the incline is so steep. Once Sweet got out of the vehicle it started to roll, Coomer said. He raced to grab the car, but once it went into the water there was no way to reach it, Coomer said.

Scott City policeman Chris Griggs was patrolling the area and saw Coomer and Sweet walking along the road. By the time he saw the vehicle it was submerged in the water, and all that could be seen were the taillights of the car, he said.

The car had been facing the water, but once it was submerged it began floating and turned, Griggs said.

Sweet never caught the kittens.

Sweet said he had hoped to talk with bank officials Monday morning about a loan so he could buy the car from his friend, Coomer. But that deal would likely be canceled.