Tragedy as body of missing student, 19, is found in her car submerged in a bayou after she tried to drive to a party while 'drunk' four days ago
- Hayley Howard was last seen leaving University of New Orleans car park about 1:50am Saturday
- A friend told police Howard stopped for a flat tire and a passing motorist helped her and police believe she was drunk at the time
- Police found her body inside her submerged Toyota Corolla Wednesday
- Toxicology reports are pending
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The body of missing University of New Orleans student was found Wednesday inside her submerged car, four days after she disappeared driving to a party.
Hayley Howard, 19, was last seen early Saturday morning dropping a friend off at the university's dorms with the intention of returning home to Slidell, Louisiana for a party.
Police originally suspected the teen was intoxicated when she drove off to Slidell.
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Accident: The search for a missing University of New Orleans student came to an end Wednesday when authorities found her body in her car, submerged in Irish Bayou. Above, the Silver Carolla is pulled out of the waters near I-10
Found: On Friday night, Howard went out for drinks with co-workers, dropped off a friend at the university's dorm and then disappeared
Lost: The boyfriend of missing University of New Orleans student Hayley Howard, middle, is consoled after it was announced her body had been found in her car that was submerged by a bridge
Sad news: Cindy Howard, mother of missing UNO student Hayley Howard, in beige hat, is embraced while Hayley's father James looks on as searchers look for her daughter near the Irish Bayou exit on I-10 eastbound in New Orleans on Wednesday
Howard never showed up to that party and was officially reported missing the next afternoon.
The search for Howard ended Wednesday when authorities found her silver Toyota Corolla submerged in Irish Bayou.
A body was found inside the small car, which authorities believe is Howard's. Toxicology reports are pending.
Police believe Howard's death was a fatal accident.
'It appears that she veered to the right off the interstate system and rode on the grass until she hit the water,' New Orleans Police Department Chief Ronal Serpas said in a press conference Wednesday evening.
Authorities were able to locate her submerged car becuase her cellphone pinged at a nearby tower.
'It's not at all the way we would have wanted it to turn out,' St Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said at the press conference. 'But it is the way it is. At least the family has some closure now.'
Intoxicated: Police believe Hayley Howard was drunk when she pulled out of a UNO car park Saturday morning
Outfit: Hayley Howard was last seen wearing a knee-length black dress with white polka dots and black shoes with a small heel and a silver accent on the toe
Howard's family wept at the scene after hearing the news, with many supporting her grieving boyfriend as he cried.
Howard spent her last day attending classes at UNO before going to work Uptown.
After work, she went out for drinks with co-workers on Magazine Street and then proceeded to drive a friend back to the campus dorms.
One of Howard's friends told deputies the teen stopped for a flat tire on her way home to Slidell and a passing motorist helped her, according to WWLTV.
Her car was found between campus and Slidell.
Scene: Hayley Howard was last seen driving out of the University of New Orleans parking lot on Lakeshore Drive about 1.50am Saturday
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t harlow, los angeles, United States, 1 hour ago
Maybe she was dehydrated and needed some water¿.