Autopsy determines cause of man’s death at Ohiopyle
A Mount Pleasant man whose body was discovered Tuesday afternoon at Ohiopyle died of asphyxiation due to drowning, Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly said.
The body of Darryl Lohr, 62, was found in the Rivers End Rapids area of the Youghiogheny River around 1:30 p.m. Reilly said Thursday there is no suspicion of foul play, but indicated he would wait to determine Lohr’s manner of death until toxicology results are finalized. That could take several weeks. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht performed an autopsy at Reilly’s request on Wednesday afternoon.
Reilly said he believes that Lohr was on the old railroad trail bridge before ending up in the river.
“He had injuries from the fall, but no injuries to suggest he was assault or that there was criminal conduct. There is no foul play,” Reilly said.
He also concluded that Lohr would have likely been unconscious after the fall due to the injuries he sustained.
The old railroad bridge is a short walk from the parking lot in which Lohr’s car was found, he said. Lohr’s body was carried approximately four miles downstream.
Park Manager Ken Bisbee said the matter has been turned over to state police, who are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Lohr’s death.