Police say three missing North Dakota college softball players have been found dead in their vehicle, which was pulled from a pond northwest of Dickinson.

Police Lt. Rod Banyai said Tuesday night that police are "still investigating" the cause of the deaths.

Authorities have been searching since Sunday night for 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.

The Dickinson State University students were said to be in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California plates when they were last heard from in calls made to two friends on cell phones before the lines went dead.

The Associated Press: Police: 3 ND college students found dead in pond (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivg3H4SVxoJDOECn-VbmiaH9xhvAD9BOCGK01)

So very sad!

Wow, that sucks.

Hard to believe it could happen to 3 strong, athletic gals...one of the Dad's said the gals would go out near a lake to look at the stars. Very sad indeed.

What's really sad is that when they (apparently) hit the water, they called another friend, not 911.

The Dickinson State University students were said to be in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California plates when they were last heard from in calls made to two friends on cell phones before the lines went dead.

It's not how a "lifeline call" works in real life.