Montgomery County, PA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 24, 2009

 

 

 

 

         

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, West Norriton Township Police Chief Robert P. Adams and Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono announce an investigation into a fatal crash on June 23, 2009. Shortly after 9 pm the West Norriton Police were dispatched to a multi-vehicle accident on the Dannehower Bridge (Route 202).  Upon arrival at the scene, responding police officers found a severely damage motorcycle laying on the highway and the operator was found nearby, seriously injured.  A preliminary investigation has revealed that this motorcycle was occupied by two persons, a 21 year old male (driver) and a female (passenger).  The female was not immediately located.  Evidence at the scene indicated that the passenger was ejected from the motorcycle and went over the side of the bridge.  A water search and rescue operation was commenced and at 12:36 AM on today’s date, the deceased body of 19 year old Ryan Benita Benjoman was recovered from the Schuylkill River.  The victim was removed from the scene and was taken to the Montgomery County Morgue pending a post mortem examination.  The crash is currently under investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the West Norriton Police Department.

 

The following agencies assisted in the attempted rescue and subsequent investigation:

 

Norristown Fire Department
 Water Rescue/Dive Team
 Firefighters

 

Jefferson Fire Company
 Water Rescue

 

Gladwyne Fire Company
 Water Rescue
 Light Truck

 

Norriton Fire Company
 Water Rescue

 

Swedesburg Fire Company
 Water Rescue

 

Bridgeport Fire Company No.1

 

Lower Providence Fire Company

 

Telford Fire Company
 Dive/Rescue Team

 

Montgomery County Department of Public Safety
 Field Communications Unit 1

 

North Penn – Goodwill Fire Company
 Mobile Canteen Unit

 

Washington Fire Company No. 1 (Conshohocken)
 Fire Police

 

Plymouth Fire Company
 Fire Police

 

Harmonville Fire Company
 Fire Police

 

Spring Mill Fire Company
 Fire Police

 

Swedeland Fire Company
 Fire Police

 

Whitemarsh Township Police Department
 
West Norriton Police Department

 

Norristown Police Department

 

Upper Merion Police Department

 

Bridgeport Police Department

 

Plymouth Police Department

 

Lower Providence Police Department

 

Philadelphia Police Department (Aviation Division)

 

Montgomery County Detectives

 

PENNSTAR

 

    
    Approved for release:

 

    Risa Vetri Ferman