The search for Michelle Hoang Thi Le, a nursing student who has been reported missing for over 48 hours, intensified, Monday, and the police have not ruled out foul play.

Le, 26, disappeared without a trace around 7pm on Friday. Her friends and colleagues said Le disappeared while she was on a class break at Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center.

Elizabeth Valente, a spokeswoman for Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, Calif., where Le is a student, said they are all deeply concerned about her disappearance.

She was last seen Friday evening after she did not return to the hospital from the parking garage at the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center, a press statement issued by the University read.

The University and the Le family ask that the media continue to respect the family’s privacy at this unbelievably difficult time, the statement said.

The police said her car was found a few blocks from the hospital. Calls made to Le's cellphone went unanswered.

Initially, authorities could trace her cell phone signal to Oakland, Union City and Fremont but later tracing became difficult and the police believe the cell phone is either switched off or it is out of range.

The police said some of Le's classmates were told by her that she would go to Reno, Nevada on Friday night to meet some friends. However, she did not meet the friend who was supposed to accompany her to Reno.

Le, who resides in San Mateo, did not suffer from any medical or psychiatric conditions, the police said.

Hayward Police Lt. Roger Keener said the authorities have deployed a helicopter to scour the area but haven't come across anything yet that may help them determine whether this is a foul play incident or anything.

Although her vehicle was driven from the hospital parking structure, it was subsequently located by police only a few blocks away, the police department said in a statement.

Le is still being treated as a missing person. She is described as 5'6 tall, with black hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information on Le, please contact Hayward Police Department at 510-293-7000.