Young Man Who Fell Into Ohio River While Fishing Was Recent Mercyhurst University Graduate
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The search continues today for a recent college graduate who went missing while fishing with his friends over the weekend on Neville Island.
Ohio Township Police have identified the man who fell into the Ohio River on Saturday night as 23-year-old Kenneth Robinson.
Robinson, of Hazelwood, had been fishing with three friends in Neville Township when he fell into the water.
Police are calling it a tragic accident.
Mercyhurst University says Robinson just graduated as part of their Class of 2020. They've released a statement, saying in part:
"I urge you put to aside your own daily pressures and concerns and take a moment to pray for Kenny, his family and friends.
"Kenny is one of Mercyhurst's great success stories. He began his education in 2015 at Mercyhurst North East, where he was a health studies major and played two seasons of baseball, culminating in a regional championship.
"He transferred to Erie where he continued to excel, playing an important role in the Lakers back-to-back regional championships and World Series appearances. This spring, he graduated with a degree in sport business management, and is scheduled to be back with us in the fall, working toward his master's degree in organizational leadership and helping coach baseball.
"Mercyhurst baseball coach Joe Spano shares that Kenny 'can light up any room' and that, both on and off the field, 'he is a terrific person in every way.'
"Let's continue to keep him in our hearts and prayers."
Swift water rescue crews from Neville and Robinson Townships, Ohio Township Police, Valley EMS crews, as well as search dogs and dive teams from Crescent Township and Beaver Falls have all assisted in the search for Robinson.
"We searched the river. We had four boats on the water. We searched river right, river left, we brought dogs in later on," Michael Thomas, the chief of the Neville Island Volunteer Fire Department, said.
We're now on day three, with a combined 15 hours of searching and counting, and still no sign of Robinson.
"We sent divers in the water. The divers didn't find nothing," said Thomas. "It gets frustrating, really. We're just trying to do the best we can for the family."
Police say it is now a search and recovery mission.
Right now, they're hoping they will be able to find Robinson, so that his family can receive some closure.
"We're going to stagger the boats, have some in the morning, some in the afternoon, and we're going to do what we can," Thomas said.
Police tell us they don't believe alcohol was involved.
Crews are expected to continue to search for Robinson throughout the day.