Woman killed in bridge crash identified

Her body was pulled from the Schuylkill River overnight
NORRISTOWN, Pa. - June 24, 2009 Police say Ryan Benita Benjoman, 19, was tossed off a motorcycle and over the Dannehower Bridge in Norristown in a violent crash Tuesday night.

She was riding on the back as a passenger on the bike.

The man who was driving the motorcycle is at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania recovering from his injuries.

So far, that driver has not been identified.

Rescue teams spent the late night hours searching the waters of the Schuylkill River for Benjoman, who was thrown from the motorcycle.

It was around 9:00 p.m. when the pair was crossing the bridge. The motorcycle crashed, the man landed on the roadway and Benjoman flew over the guardrail and into the river below.

Witnesses reported seeing her go over the edge. Divers then set out on their search.

Benjoman's body was discovered around 1:00 a.m. and pulled from the water.

Detectives are investigating reports that the driver, who is from the area, was behaving recklessly, and that he was racing another biker over the bridge. That other bike may have been a friend of Benjoman's.

Blood tests are being done to determine if alcohol was a factor in this crash.

"We certainly have reason to believe that the driver may have been speeding and driving recklessly, and it was that driving that may have caused the accident," said Montgomery County D.A. Risa Vetri Ferman.

Action News has learned that driver has been able to talk to police.

Friends and neighbors came to mourn with the family at the crash scene on Wednesday.

"I wanted to bring flowers because I felt bad for her, too," said 10-year-old Luis Fredrick.

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