Taylor Southgate Bridge reopens after motorcyclist ejected into Ohio River

NEWPORT, Ky. – The Taylor Southgate Bridge reopened to traffic Tuesday evening after being shut down for several hours following a multi-vehicle crash that ejected a motorcyclist over the side and into the Ohio River.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m., at the height of the evening commute, snarling traffic on both sides of the river. According to a statement from the Newport Police Department, emergency crews were dispatched to the bridge for a report of a serious collision involving a motorcycle and at least one passenger vehicle.

Upon arrival, first responders learned from witnesses that the operator of the motorcycle had been thrown over the bridge’s railing by the force of the impact.

An immediate and large-scale search and rescue operation was launched on the river below. Boats from the Newport and Cincinnati Fire Departments, along with the Covington Fire Department’s dive team and the U.S. Coast Guard, converged on the area to begin searching for the rider.

“Our primary focus right now is the search operation on the water,” said Newport Police Chief Keith Malloy in a brief statement to reporters near the scene. “This is a tragic event, and our hearts go out to the family of the individual we are searching for.”

The bridge, a critical artery connecting Newport, Kentucky, with downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, was closed in both directions. Police shut down access from both 3rd Street in Newport and 2nd Street in Cincinnati, creating significant traffic delays throughout the downtown areas.

Newport Police’s accident reconstruction team spent hours on the bridge, documenting the scene, taking measurements, and collecting evidence to determine the cause of the collision. The other vehicles involved remained on the bridge during the investigation. Officials have not yet released details on whether any other individuals were injured in the crash.

Traffic was officially allowed to flow across the bridge again at approximately 8:30 p.m.

As of late Tuesday night, the search for the motorcyclist, whose identity has not been released, was continuing. Officials have stated the river’s current and visibility pose significant challenges to the recovery effort.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken with investigators to contact the Newport Police Department. The investigation into the circumstances of the collision is ongoing.