University of Iowa student ID’d as person who may have jumped into Iowa River

IOWA CITY - Authorities have identified the person they've been searching for in the Iowa River for two days, but the man still hasn't been found.

University of Iowa student David Le, 19, of Sioux City, may have jumped in the river Thursday morning from the Iowa Avenue Bridge, according to a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office on Friday evening.

Some of Le's belongings were found on the bridge Thursday, and he was reported missing from class that morning.

Authorities have been searching the river since Thursday after UI police requested help from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office to search for the student.

Le is considered a missing person at this time, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities suspended their river search Friday night, according the sheriff's office. Search efforts in and along the river have included dragging, divers and cadaver dogs.

The UI contacted the sheriff's office about 10 a.m. Thursday after locating 'evidence which strongly suggests someone may have entered the river from the Iowa Avenue Bridge,” university spokeswoman Hayley Bruce told The Gazette.

'We're fairly confident someone went in the water, but we're not 100 percent sure,” Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said Friday morning.

Authorities searched the area immediately north and south of the bridge Thursday and Friday.

Deputies were assisted by the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, representatives from Johnson County Emergency Management and area fire departments, among other agencies.

Comments: (319) 339-3155; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com