Team of dogs employed in search for fisherman
A team of five search and rescue dogs from the Fayette County Sheriff’s office “hit” the same area along the lock wall of Maxwell Lock & Dam early Sunday afternoon, and authorities believe the spot may mark the site of the lone missing Washington County fisherman. “We believe he’s hung up on something down there,” said the chief of the Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Department, Ryan Nichols, referring to the body of Steve Berry, 36, of Amity.
The dogs “hit” a restricted area in the Monongahela River in Luzerne Township around 10 a.m. Sunday, and since that time, Nichols was awaiting approval to search the waters from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the dam.
“The divers aren’t allowed in because of the danger near the dam,” Nichols said, noting the Corps of Engineers were scheduled to have a meeting this morning. “We can’t dive in there. They’re going to let me know about diving (today).”
The dogs hit three other areas on Sunday, but those sites were eliminated through search and rescue efforts, noted Nichols.
Berry and Trent Stupak, 40, of Washington were reported missing after their small, recreational fishing boat capsized around 6:30 p.m. on April 22 near the lock and dam. State police recovered the craft that transported the two boaters and the empty trailer shortly after the incident occurred last week.
Berry is the lone victim of the boating accident who is still missing. The body of his fishing partner, Stupak, was found Saturday, about 1,000 or 2,000 yards from where the dogs signaled interest on Sunday.
Fayette County Deputy Coroner Marisa Springer said Saturday the suspected cause of Stupak’s death is drowning, but a full autopsy and toxicology tests were scheduled for Sunday.
Calls to the coroner’s office for updates were on hold Sunday night, according to a dispatcher.
Family members of the two men first spotted the surfaced body and alerted volunteer firefighters to their discovery.
Nichols said family members remained on constant vigil for signs of their missing loved ones and even purchased a light that lit up a whole area of river.
During Friday’s search, divers from the Corps of Engineers found a cell phone and the reel of a fishing rod, a pole bracket once attached to the seat of the boat and a trolling motor, all items that belonged to the two men. Each item was found in the area known as Tainter Gate 1, according to Nichols.
Assisting in Sunday’s effort were volunteer firefighters from Luzerne Township, South Brownsville, Denbo-Vesta 6, California and Tower Hill 2. Some used their own boats in the search, Nichols said.
The Salvation Army and the Grindstone Foodland also lent a hand by providing needed food and refreshments, he added.