A Bowling Green teenager drowned after trying to cross the Barren River.

Police say the body of 15-year-old Jessie Ingram was discovered early Sunday about 50 yards downstream from where he went under.

Ingram was swimming in Barren River with another teen on Saturday night.

Somewhere near the bank, something went terribly wrong, and Ingram went under.

Deborah Williams with the rescue squad was one of the first on the scene.

"The Warren County Rescue Department was dispatched around 9:30 by the Warren County Sheriff's Office to attempt to find a juvenile that was in the water behind Beach Bend Park," she says.

The park was hosting a motorcycle contest, and authorities believe Ingram was trying to swim across the river to see the race.

Mel Veatch was camping on Mar. 29 and saw the recovery effort taking place.

"There was a rescue squad and first responders in the water, and they seemed to be concentrating on an area sort of left of that ramp across the river," he recalls.

As the night progressed crews from Alvaton, Allen County, Richardsville and Hart County joined in the effort.

"Later on a boat was launched further. I think that's South of here, and came up to this point. And they started searching the river with
a boat," Veatch explains.

The crews worked all night to recover the body, and Williams says despite the tragedy she's proud of the volunteers.

"We got teams today that have had no sleep, but they did a
really good job," she says.

Ingram's body was recovered at 4:36 a.m. on Mar. 30.

Jessie Sean Ingram's death was ruled an "accidental freshwater drowning" by the Warren County Coroner.

Jessie's family is accepting donations to help pay for funeral costs.

Anyone interested in helping the family can donate money to Heritage Funeral Services at 1510 Campbell Lane.

Visitation for Jessie Ingram will be held at Heritage on Tuesday, April 1, from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and after 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m.

For more information, please call Heritage Funeral Services at (270) 746-0603, or (270) 991-2758.