LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. — A second body has been recovered in the search for two teenagers who went missing after a police pursuit and suspected jump into the Tennessee River from the I-75 bridge near Lake Drive early Wednesday morning.
On Friday afternoon, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the recovery of one body, believed to belong to one of the missing teens. Authorities expressed their sorrow, extending condolences to the families of the young man.
“This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our hearts are heavy as we share this difficult news. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of this young man during this incredibly painful time,” stated the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in a post on Facebook.
Just two days later, on Sunday afternoon, the sheriff’s office announced that a body believed to belong to the second teenager had been found. Sheriff Jimmy Davis confirmed the notification had been made to the second teen’s family.
“As both families now face unimaginable loss, we ask the community to come together in support and compassion,” the sheriff’s office wrote on social media.
The search for the teens began early Wednesday morning after a pursuit initiated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). Authorities suspected the vehicle involved had been stolen, which led to a chase that began in the Chattanooga area. The pursuit continued into Loudon County after the teens were spotted by Sweetwater Police on I-75. Around the Loudon exit, officers lost sight of the vehicle, only to discover it abandoned on the Tennessee River Bridge.
The abandoned vehicle sparked a large-scale search effort by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) with the help of K-9 units and drones. As deputies combed the area, reports of nearby vehicle burglaries surfaced. A distressed teen was later found in the Lake Drive area, suffering from a punctured and lacerated lung. Authorities took the teen to a hospital, where his condition was reported as stable.
Sheriff Davis revealed that statements made by the injured teen led investigators to believe the teens may have jumped over a barrier on the bridge, mistakenly thinking they were crossing to the other side of the road. However, the barrier on the bridge separates two roadways, resulting in an over 80-foot fall into the river below.
With this information in hand, LCSO collaborated with local and state rescue teams, including the Loudon County Rescue Squad, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. These agencies utilized drones, helicopters, sonar, and underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in an attempt to locate the teens, though conditions such as the water flow from the nearby Fort Loudon Dam hindered their progress. The search continued through Friday and was set to resume Saturday morning.
Despite the extensive efforts, search teams have yet to find any signs of the teens beyond a backpack believed to be associated with them, which was discovered further downstream from the bridge. The sheriff’s office announced Thursday that the search had transitioned from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, as the “golden hour” for a rescue had passed.
Sheriff Davis stressed the importance of keeping the search teams focused and asked the public to refrain from contacting the sheriff’s office or the mayor’s office to offer assistance. He noted that more than 150 calls had been received from friends and family members of the missing teens, but the influx of calls had diverted crucial resources away from the search effort.
As of Friday, the recovery operation continued, with emergency responders from various agencies continuing to search the river both on and off the water. Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to contact the Loudon County Communications Center at 865-458-9081.
This tragic incident has left the local community in mourning, and both families of the missing teens are now facing an unimaginable loss. The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office has vowed to continue the search until all efforts are exhausted.
