The body of a Guilford man, who was missing after a crash or series of vehicle crashes at approximately 5:05 a.m. Monday, March 5, on the Whitewater River Bridge on Interstate 74 in Harrison Township, was found on a sand bar in the Whitewater River Tuesday afternoon March 6, said Sgt. Noel Houze, Indiana State Police Versailles District public information officer.

The cause of death for James J. Kramer, 54, Guilford, will not be determined until an autopsy is conducted, he said.

ISP Trooper Kyle Stovall arrived at the scene approximately 30 minutes after the crashes and based on evidence at the scene and driver accounts he believes at approximately 5:05 a.m. a red 2004 Ford F150 pickup truck, registered to Kramer, was involved in a crash on the bridge at the 168 mile marker, said Houze.

When the vehicle came to rest it was across both eastbound lanes. A very short time later a 2007 Nissan driven by Jesus A. Diaz-Ramirez, 57,  Indianapolis was crossing the bridge and saw the red Ford pickup truck in the roadway and swerved to avoid the pickup and struck the bridge and possibly the pickup truck, he said.

Just a short time later, another 2004 Ford F150 pickup truck driven by Gerald H. Schneider, 59, Brookville, came across the bridge and missed the red pickup truck but struck the 2007 Nissan. A short distance behind the Schneider vehicle, a 2003 Freightliner semi tractor pulling a box trailer driven by Rafal K. Kupski, 33, of Huntley, Ill., struck the Nissan and the red Ford F150 and pushed both vehicles to the east side of the bridge, he said.

During the subsequent investigation the driver of the red Ford F150 could not be found. The driver of the Nissan said he didn’t remember seeing the driver when he came upon the original crash however, due to darkness, it would have been difficult to see anyone at that time, said Houze.

Troopers attempted to make contact with the registered owner of the pickup truck at his residence and they also searched the along the banks of the Whitewater River all day Monday, but were unable to locate a body. Tuesday, divers from the Indiana State Police and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Underwater Search and Recovery teams continued their search for a body in the Whitewater River, he said.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. this  Indiana Conservation Officers located a body on a sand bar in the Whitewater River approximately one mile downstream from the Whitewater Bridge, identified as Kramer. Relatives say he was driving his vehicle Monday morning. At this time it is unclear if Kramer was knocked off the bridge when his vehicle was struck by the Nissan or if he jumped in an attempt to avoid being struck by one of the vehicles, said Houze.

The driver of the 2007 Nissan, Diaz-Ramirez was transported to the P.A.C. Center in Harrison,  by Harrison Fire and EMS for treatment of non-life threatening injuries following the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

Stovall was assisted by other troopers, Indiana Conservation Officers, and Harrison Fire and EMS.