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Man's body found in creek after motorcycle accident in Washington County

MARIANNA, Pa. — The desperate search for a man in Washington County has been called off after officials said his body was found in a creek in West Bethlehem Township on Monday morning.

Family and friends of Richard Lawry Jr. told Channel 11’s Cara Sapida that they had been looking for him for more than a day before his body was found in Ten Mile Creek off Marianna-Beallsville Road around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

“We looked everywhere. We looked on every road possible. We couldn’t find him,” said Donald Huffman, Lawry’s stepfather.

Investigators said Lawry, 25, was last seen around 2 a.m. on Sunday when he left his home riding his motorcycle. He was reported missing at 11 p.m. Sunday.

“We were out searching for him with spotlights. We went to Jefferson, Bentleyville, Cokeburg, Washington,” said Kristie Huseman-Falcon, Lawry’s best friend.

Investigators said an accident scene involving the motorcycle was found during the search. Investigators said they believe Lawry crashed his motorcycle, skidded on the road and went over an embankment. His body was found about a mile downstream from the accident scene.

“He flew 200 feet off that bike. He must have hit his head. There’s a hand print on the tree, like he was stumbling and went into the creek,” Huseman-Falcon said.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said Lawry’s cause of death is pending an autopsy and his manner of death is pending investigation.

Lawry’s family members said he will be remembered as a hard worker.