Recovery mission underway after man jumps into Great Miami River after crash

BUTLER COUNTY — UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m.:

A recovery mission is underway after a man ran from a crash into the Great Miami River Saturday.

Hamilton police and Butler County deputies were called to a crash Saturday at 9:50 p.m. in the area of North 3rd Street and Black Street, according to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones.

Jones said the driver or someone in the car ran from the scene to a nearby bridge and jumped into the Great Miami River.

Authorities worked to get the person to return to shore but the person continued to swim out farther and got stuck on debris, Jones said.

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At one point the man floated down the river and “contact was lost,” according to Jones.

The sheriff’s office said they have not confirmed the identity of the person, so have not released their name at this time.

“All indications are they never came out of the water,” Jones said adding that the search is now considered a “recovery mission” as they believe the man to be dead.

Butler County deputies, Hamilton police, Ohio Department of Natural Resources officers as well as volunteers are continuing to search for the man, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

We will continue updating this story as we learn more.

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