Body of missing man found under the Trout River Bridge

A weekend-long search for a man whose car was found on the Mathews Bridge has now ended.

A fisherman spotted a body of a man early Monday, and police say it is 39-year-old Vernon Stephens, missing since Friday night.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said they recovered the body under the Trout River Bridge Monday around 7 a.m.

Stephens’s car was disabled on the Mathews Bridge around 11 p.m. Friday when another car hit his. A report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says the man driving the car which hit Stephens’ was driving an estimated 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit and was distracted.  No word yet on whether there will be any charges filed against him.

At the time, it was not clear if Stephens went into the water after the crash or walked off the bridge.

The Coast Guard searched 11 square miles between the Mathews Bridge and Brills Cut, but called off the search about eight hours later.

Police don’t believe any foul play was involved and think a strong current was the reason his body traveled about three miles in less than three days.