Body found in Neuse River in Smithfield

A N.C. Department of Transportation crew found a body in the Neuse River in Smithfield on Tuesday afternoon.

The crew was working to remove debris from around the support columns of the Neuse River Bridge on U.S. 301 south of Smithfield around 2:30 p.m. when they discovered a body, according to DOT spokesman Rob Broome.

Smithfield Police recovered the body with assistance from the Smithfield Fire Department. High, fast water made recovering the body initially difficult, according to Smithfield town spokesman Tim Kerigan. The body was turned over to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, according to Smithfield Capt. R. Sheppard.

No other information was immediately available.

This story was originally published April 25, 2017 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Body found in Neuse River in Smithfield."