CINCINNATI — Crews have recovered the body of the motorcyclist who crashed on the Taylor Southgate Bridge and fell into the Ohio River Saturday night.
Family and friends joined local officials in the search for the 23-year-old, who loved ones and officials declined to identify. Boone County Water Rescue said the motorcyclist was traveling north on the bridge when they collided with another vehicle and was "ejected over the side of the bridge."
The water rescue team was conducting a scheduled patrol nearby before they arrived on-scene. They said two witnesses jumped into the river and attempted to save the motorcyclist. One witness was rescued by Boone County Water Rescue, while another was picked up by a nearby civilian boat.
Newport police said the man's body was recovered Monday evening around 5:40 p.m. Boone County Water Rescue found the man's body 100 yards from the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and 300 feet from the Cincinnati riverbank, the Cincinnati Fire Department said. The body was taken to the Campbell County Coroner's Office.
Tino Barbosa, a family friend who described himself as being like the man's uncle, told us friends and family were helping with the search in hopes that they could give the family closure.
"All his friends, everybody has been there, been trying to help, trying to be supportive," Barbosa said earlier in the day. "We know, of course, (he is) not going to be alive. At least (we can) find him so his father can give him a proper funeral."
WATCH: See how family took part in Monday's search efforts
According to his family, the man lived in Cincinnati and worked at a local Mexican restaurant.
"(He was) young, energetic. I mean, the adjectives that I could use to describe him are like, so many," Barbosa said. "Outgoing, nice, very gentle."
Water search and rescue teams "searched all night" Saturday for the motorcyclist. They also searched through the night on Sunday before getting back out on the water Monday morning.
According to Boone County Water Rescue, crews on Monday conducted a visual search and using sonar technology. While the weather didn't inhibit the effort, debris floating in the water complicated the search.
"Yes, typically around bridge areas, there is a larger debris field," said Danielle Gronefeld with Boone County Water Rescue.
About a dozen family and friends of the man searched alongside the water team on Monday. When asked what the community can do for the man's family, Barbosa said, "praying, sending good vibes, sending good energy."
