An Independence woman died Wednesday night after her SUV rolled into the Ohio River, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.
The coroner ruled the death as an apparent suicide. Authorities have not revealed the woman’s identify.
Cincinnati police confirmed that the woman was the sole person in the SUV. Officers were alerted around 5:04 p.m. near Broadway Street and East Mehring Way after receiving reports of a vehicle sliding into the river.
Witnesses told police that a white SUV drove into the river from the Broadway Street ramp. Emergency personnel from many agencies, including dive teams from Cincinnati, Boone County, and Hamilton County, responded to the incident.
The SUV was found from the river about six hours later, around 11 p.m.
According to Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Jerome Herring, the vehicle entered the river by driving down a loading dock near the Public Landing, which is not open to the public.
According to Lt. Herring, the mission was tough due to the adverse weather conditions.
“It depends on visibility and the officer’s ability to get into the water, right? So, once the officers and the dive team assess the temperature of the water, the current, and the speed of the water, they’ll put their equipment in, and the officers will get into the water and try to use sonar to locate the vehicle.
And if it’s possible, if it is, then they’ll try to go down and tow it out. If not, then they’ll have to try another time.”
Crews stayed on the scene all evening as recovery attempts proceeded despite harsh cold weather and little visibility.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is open 24/7. Watch the video at your own risk.
