Search for Monaca man in Ohio River continues
22-year-old missing after going under while swimming
Swimming in the Ohio River was the thing for young people to do during summertime in Monaca.
Jason Moore was no exception. His friends said he loved to fish and swim in the river at the boat dock at the end of Atlantic Avenue.
That’s where authorities said Mr. Moore, 22, and a teenager dived off the dock shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday when the teen started struggling in the water. The teen was pulled out, but Mr. Moore went under because of the strong current.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it because of the rain,” said Paul Cercone, 17, of Monaca, a friend and neighbor of Mr. Moore’s.
Responding police and fire departments spotted Mr. Moore about 100 yards from the dock treading water and then lost sight of him, Monaca police Chief William Petures said. The search was called off Wednesday night, resumed Thursday morning, then stopped about 3 p.m. with no recovery.
“Darkness and swift current became a problem for rescue efforts,” the chief said.
On Thursday, three emergency boats with 13 rescuers and another private boat searched the river from Monaca to as far as Shippingport, according to the Monaca fire
department. Four divers were among the rescuers on boats, but they hesitated to enter the water because of the still-strong current.
Mr. Moore’s family and friends looked on as firefighters launched boats into the river around 9:30 a.m. The family declined to comment, but friends recalled Mr. Moore as an easygoing person who had recently taken a job at Texas Roadhouse.
“He was a cool guy, fun, caring, he didn’t care what people thought about him,” said Tabbitha Tanner, 18, of Monaca, a friend of Mr. Moore’s.
“It’s just shocking because he’s not going to be here anymore,” Mr. Cercone said, “and they still haven’t found his body yet.”