Update: 4:25 p.m. – The victim is identified as Ohn Y. Awar, 30, of Bowling Green, according to Public Information Officer Corey King.
Awar died from blunt force trauma and drowning. His family has been notified.
Original story:
One person died Wednesday evening after driving their truck into the Ohio River near Wrights Landing Road in eastern Daviess County, according to Kentucky State Police Public Information Officer Corey King.
As of late Wednesday night, the victim’s identity had not been confirmed. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning. King provided some details in a brief press conference streamed live on the Owensboro Times Facebook page Wednesday.
King said the incident began when KSP troopers spotted a vehicle “traveling slowly off on the side of the road near a lone residence” about 3 miles from the river. He said the initial traffic stop occurred at 6:40 p.m.
King said both drivers saw the driver of the vehicle, “who appeared to be intoxicated.” He said the patrol car turned around to try to stop the vehicle, but that the driver then fled.
“The fleeing vehicle crossed over several different corridors as well as the railroad tracks, U.S. 60, had a very high rate of speed traveling toward the Ohio River (down Wrights Landing Road). At that point, never braked, went straight into the river, where they finally recovered the deceased male,” he said.
King said it is estimated the vehicle got up to about 70-80 mph on the road before it went off the bank, cleared the trees, and submerged in the water. He said the troopers backed off on the pursuit because of the speed.
King said the end of the road near the river is “illuminated to a degree” by a utility pole, but also noted the trooper said the area “was very well-lit” at the time of the incident because the sun had not yet gone down.
“It’s simply unknown whether the operator knew this location or could it be something more, like perhaps suicide, we’re unsure at this moment,” King said.
King said the driver was behind the wheel when emergency crews recovered the body.
Agencies responding included KSP; Daviess County, Thruston-Dermont, and Owensboro fire departments; Daviess County Sheriff’s Office; Owensboro Police Department; Henderson Fire and Rescue; Daviess County Coroner; and Department of Fish and Wildlife.
