PINE BLUFF -- Authorities briefly searched the Arkansas River on Tuesday for a man who they believe jumped from the U.S. 79 bridge near Pine Bluff on Monday morning, but treacherous currents again forced the suspension of the search.
It was the second day deputies and divers had to stop their search because of the river's conditions.
Police said Corey Jermaine Simmons, 43, of Pine Bluff, leaped from the bridge northeast of Pine Bluff early Monday.
Jefferson County deputies and the county's marine, dive and rescue team searched for Simmons after a passerby notified police of seeing Simmons' abandoned truck on the bridge. The engine was still running, but no one was in the truck, said Jefferson County sheriff's office spokesman Maj. Lafayette Woods Jr.
Simmons sent text messages to family members Monday saying he loved them, Woods said. Deputies also found a note inside his truck apologizing to his family.
The Arkansas River rose last week after heavy rains. The river flow was gauged at 46,700 cubic feet per second Monday when the search began. It increased to 75,000 cubic feet per second Tuesday afternoon.
"It still too dangerous," Woods said. "We can't put our divers in. The current is moving too swiftly."
Woods said he expects searchers will use the sheriff's office airplane -- a four-seat Cessna aircraft -- on Saturday to hunt for Simmons.
"It's going to be a recovery mission, not a rescue," he said.
State Desk on 03/25/2015