TEXARKANA — Louisiana authorities identified a skeleton found on a Red River sandbar as that of a 42-year-old Ashdown, Arkansas, woman missing since February.
The remains are those of Janice Northcross, who fell into the river near Fulton to avoid a tractor-trailer that was skidding toward her on an icy Interstate 30 bridge, the Texarkana Gazette reported. Sheriff Steve Prator and Coroner Dr. Todd Thoma of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, made the announcement Thursday.
A forensic dentist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, used dental records provided by Arkansas State Police to make the identification from the remains found earlier this month in Caddo Parish.
A single bone was discovered Sept. 5 and more were found in the following days.
Northcross was standing on the bridge on Feb. 8 with co-worker Ricky Norwood after a multi-vehicle accident. They were on their way to work at the Firestone plant in Prescott, Arkansas.
Both went over the side of the bridge when the semi-trailer headed toward them.
Norwood was rescued from the water, but Northcross was not found. Only her shoes were recovered from the river.
"We're thankful she has been recovered, and I hope the family can have closure," Miller County Sheriff Ron Stovall said.
The tractor-trailer also hit a vehicle driven by Kathryn Burris that was stopped behind Norwood's truck. Burris was able to fall to the pavement and remain on the bridge.