17-year-old cyclist found dead after being knocked off bridge into river, NC cops say
A 17-year-old bicyclist was found dead after he was knocked off a bridge, sending him plunging into a North Carolina river, officials said.
The N.C. State Highway Patrol said the teenager was riding a bike on a U.S. Highway 17 exit ramp when a pickup truck hit him. The crash tossed the cyclist off his bike, throwing him over the railing of a bridge that spans the Neuse River in Craven County, WITN reported.
As first responders from several agencies descended upon the area July 18, crews used boats, sonar technology and a helicopter to search for the missing bicyclist. The teen’s body was found in the water near the bridge, Stanley Kite, director of emergency services for Craven County, told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
The teen was identified in a news release as Trace Nobles of New Bern.
First responders were called just before 3 a.m. on July 18 to a crash on the Neuse River Bridge, which connects towns in the New Bern area. The region is roughly 115 miles southeast of Raleigh.
After the crash, the pickup truck driver stopped and reported that the teen hadn’t been wearing reflective gear, according to WITN. An investigation into the early-morning accident continues.
The N.C. State Highway Patrol didn’t immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on July 19.
This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 9:34 AM with the headline "17-year-old cyclist found dead after being knocked off bridge into river, NC cops say."
