Crews narrow search area as recovery operations continue for man in river in Dayton
May 17—Dayton Fire Department crews have narrowed down the area they're searching for a man who entered the Great Miami River near the West Monument Avenue bridge in Dayton Thursday.
Fire department personnel resumed recovery operations Friday morning after calling off the search around 9 p.m. Thursday.
"We have narrowed the area of search with technology and canine to a certain location," District Chief Tyler McCoy said early Friday afternoon.
A crane was at the scene early dropping a net into the river to help assist the recovery.
"Where we believe the victim is, is very turbulent water and it's very dangerous to put divers in the water," McCoy said. "So for the safety of our crew members we're putting fence out there right now to try to capture the victim to bring them up."
Crews are using sonar technology to make sure the man remains in the area and isn't carried further down the river.
The victim's identity is unknown at this time.
The area of the water where the man is believed to be in is turbulent, with the water direction and velocity changing rapidly, McCoy said. Water levels are also rising and more rain is expected Friday, which is also impacting the recovery operation.
Dayton Fire Department crews searched the waters for about five hours Thursday after receiving a report of a man in the water at 3:58 p.m. Search operations were suspended by 9 p.m. due to the dark and safety concerns, Assistant Chief Brad French said.
The fire department deployed a full water rescue, including multiple boats. Crews searched nearby riverbanks and used sonar devices to help search. An underwater dive team was also requested from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Due to the water conditions and temperature, it was determined crews had about an hour and a half to make a water rescue, McCoy said. After that it transitioned to a recovery operation.
Construction work going on in the area has not impacted the search. McCloy said the construction crews have been an asset in helping locate the victim and were the ones who initially reported a man was in the water.
The fire department is investigating how the man ended up in the water, McCloy said.
Crews plans to remain at the scene until dark and resume operations Saturday morning if the man is not recovered.
In addition to the fire department, the Dayton Police Department, Five Rivers MetroParks Police, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fire Department Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Christian Aid Ministries and EquuSearch responded.
