Arkansas police name 1 bridge-jump suspect; a 2nd missing

Helena-West Helena police revealed Tuesday the identity of a woman believed to have jumped from the U.S. 49 bridge on Friday and said another person disappeared from the bridge early Tuesday morning.

Police have not found either bodies, Helena-West Helena Police Chief Virgil Green said.

Police found the car of Audie Dreher, 76, of Conway abandoned Friday with its emergency flashers on at the bridge of the two-lane U.S. 49. The car had a note in it, but officers have not revealed the contents of the note.

After speaking with Dreher's family, police said they believed Dreher jumped from the bridge into the Mississippi River.

Green previously told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Dreher had stayed at the Isle of Capri Casino in Lula, Miss., across the river from Helena-West Helena on Wednesday and Thursday, and had gambled with "play money" during her stay.

This week, Green said someone reported another abandoned car on the bridge about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Officers have not released the name of the vehicle's owner but have contacted the person's family and reportedly believe that the person also jumped from the bridge.

Green, who became Helena-West Helena police chief a year ago after moving to the area from Oklahoma City, said he believes it has been a couple of years since anyone jumped from the bridge.

"This is quite odd or concerning that you would find in a matter of ... days that you have two people that would jump to their death," he said.

Members of the Helena-West Helena Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard have searched the river for Dreher.

Because of heavy rains, the river rose from 12 feet Aug. 17 to 20 feet Monday. River levels are expected to go down to 18 feet later this week. Flood stage is 44 feet.

Metro on 08/24/2016

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