Newton County Sheriff's Department heading up search for body in Sabine River at Bon Wier

Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby and his deputies are searching the Sabine River at Bon Wier for an individual that is believed to have jumped off the Highway 190 Bridge. Burby said the investigation into the incident began shortly after noon on Wednesday when a truck driver called emergency dispatchers and reported that he had seen someone jump from the railing. Burby said an abandoned vehicle was found nearby and it was believed that it might belong to the person who is thought to have jumped off the bridge. At 5:00pm Wednesday, Burby gave an update. He said that four boats were using sonar and also dragging the bottom of the river, but there was still no sign of the person. Burby said that recovery operations would end at nightfall and would start again at daybreak on Thursday morning. Burby said agencies participating in the search included the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Department from DeRidder, along with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Merryville Police Department, and the volunteers of the Bon Wier Fire Department.