Family Visits Pond Where ND College Students Found

Family members and teammates of three North Dakota college softball players have thrown roses and softballs into a pond where the students were found dead inside their Jeep.

In these three undated photos provided by Dickenson State University, missing students, from left,...

In these three undated photos provided by Dickenson State University, missing students, from left, Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont, Calif., Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba in Canada, and Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif. are shown. (AP Photo/Dickenson State University)

(AP)

The bodies of 22-year-old Kyrstin Gemar, of San Diego; 20-year-old Afton Williamson of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and 21-year-old Ashley Neufeld, of Brandon, Manitoba were found inside their white SUV on Tuesday. Authorities say it appears the three went on a stargazing trip when their vehicle slid into the pond in southwest North Dakota.

Police traced cell phone signals from the women's frantic calls to friends late Sunday. Those signals helped lead authorities to the pond near Dickinson.

About 30 relatives, friends and teammates gathered at the pond on Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — Three college softball players found dead after their sport utility vehicle went into a pond on a North Dakota farm during a stargazing trip likely drove straight into the water in the dark, authorities said Wednesday.

Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy said the women's SUV was found resting on its wheels Tuesday in about 10 feet of water hidden by tall grass, with the doors and windows closed.

"When you're not familiar with an area like that it would have been very easy to drive into," Tuhy said.

The sheriff said the Dickinson State University students were on private property. He stopped short of saying they were trespassing.

No foul play is suspected in the deaths of Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of San Diego; Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba. The bodies of the women and Neufeld's dog were found inside the SUV after signals from their last desperate phone calls late Sunday helped lead authorities to the farm.

Police Lt. Rod Banyai said authorities do not expect autopsy results for a week or two. The autopsies will help determine the exact cause of death and whether the women were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Authorities have said there is no indication they were. The North Dakota Highway Patrol also will examine the 1997 Jeep Cherokee to determine if the vehicle malfunctioned, Banyai said.