River search to continue
LUZERNE TWP. – Area firefighters continued to search the Monongahela River for the body of a Washington County man who has been missing since his boat capsized on the river two weeks ago today. Crews have spent the last 14 days searching the river by boat and combing the shore for any sign of Steve Barry, 36, of Amity, but have yet to find any clues that might hint at where his body may be.
Firefighters recovered the body of Trent Stupak, 40, of Washington, who was also on the boat at the time of the accident, near the Tainter Gate 1 at the Maxwell Locks & Dam in Luzerne Township last Saturday, April 29.
Lt. Terry Orris of Luzerne Volunteer Fire Department said crews will continue looking for Barry’s body today.
If nothing is found, Orris said Chief Ryan Nichols and other emergency personnel will make a decision as to whether or not the search will continue.
Stupak and Barry’s fishing boat capsized around 6:30 p.m. April 22. Emergency crews responded immediately and were able to recover the men’s 16-foot bass boat with a fishing pole tied to the boat’s anchor line.
On April 24, crews discovered a fishing bucket full of live minnows and a fishing net about a mile from the lock during a search of the river and the banks by teams of volunteer firefighters.
Orris said Berry’s family still gathers on the riverbank everyday under a makeshift shelter. The family of Stupak also visits the riverbank, offering their support. Although Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Department is leading the recovery effort, firefighters from several departments are expected to search the entire river between the two locks, the second being located in Charleroi. Today’s search is expected to take five to six hours.