Body of drowning victim recovered
CONNELLSVILLE – The start of a holiday weekend turned tragic on Friday when a Mount Pleasant, teen drown in the Youghiogheny River, near Yough Park.
Connellsville police Chief Jim Capitos said Scott Jeffries Jr., 17, of 606 Alexis Court, had been fishing with family and friends at an area referred to as “flat rock”, across the river from the popular park.
“He decided that he wanted to swim out to the pier,” said Capitos. “He got about half-way there and then went under.”
The stone pier is located near the center of the waterway.
Rescue crews from the Scottdale Volunteer Fire Co. scuba team had divers in the water, but were unable to immediately locate Jeffries.
Lady, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office 5-year-old German Shepard rescue dog, along with coroner’s investigator Roger Victor, entered the water in one of the rescue boats to aid in the search.
“We were able to allow the dog to sniff some of the clothes that he had been wearing,” said Capitos. “After a couple of passes in the water, she alerted (Victor) to where his body was located.”
Capitos said the water current had carried Jeffries’ body about 100 yards downstream.
Jeffries was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:58 p.m. by Fayette County Deputy Coroner Robert Furin.
This is the second drowning in two months at the same location.
In mid-April, Braden Yagla, 41, of North Jefferson St., Connellsville, was found lying in the river by two teenagers. Police speculated that Yagla may have fallen into the water and drown.
“We can’t prohibit people from swimming in the river, but we certainly don’t encourage it,” said Capitos.
In addition to Connellsville police and Scottdale rescue squad, also responding to the 6:15 p.m. accident was New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co., Fayette EMS and South Connellsville police.