Police concerned about missing driver

WASHINGTON - After suspicious vehicles shut down one Metro station and one major Northwest commuter route early Tuesday, police are looking for the person who left a Toyota Highlander Sport at the Connecticut Avenue Bridge.

The sport utility vehicle with Florida tags was not running but did have its flashers on, police say.

It was parked in front of an apartment building at 3220 Connecticut Ave., NW.

Police are concerned about the safety and welfare of the owner/operator of the Highlander. They are asking anyone with information to call them at 202-727-9099.

The discovery of the SUV prompted police to search the area, including a nearby ravine, with sniffer dogs.

The dogs reacted to another vehicle -- a carpet cleaning van. The bomb squad was called in.

As a result, authorities shut down Connecticut Avenue between Porter Street and Cathedral Avenue during the morning commute and closed the Cleveland Park Metro station for more than two hours. Metro briefly set up a bus bridge to ferry riders to neighboring stations.

The road and Metro station reopened just before 8 a.m. after police found no hazardous substances or packages in the area.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)