The RCMP are blaming flooding in west central Manitoba for the drowning Sunday evening of an elderly woman who was trying to drive with her husband across a river.

Flood waters on the Woody River swept the vehicle away when the couple tried to navigate a river crossing.

The two were travelling Sunday evening from their home in Birch River, about 360 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, to their son's place but failed to show up, police said.

The RCMP, area fire departments, friends, family and neighbours searched and found the couple's dog by the side of the road at a ford crossing.

The vehicle was later located without its occupants about 500 metres from the crossing, police said.

The body of the 79-year-old woman was recovered with the help of law enforcement, relatives, two local fire departments and a private plane.

Her 82-year-old husband is also presumed to have drowned, although police continue their search for his body, officers said. Their identities haven't been disclosed.

"They probably didn't realize how deep [the water] was," said RCMP Const. Jim Cockburn, who helped in the search. "They lived in the area for a very long time and probably didn't realize the height of it. People will drive across the ford crossing even if water is a little bit over, but they probably didn't realize how deep that it was."

An autopsy will be done at Brandon Hospital.