Ohio man drowns after fall into river in Gibson Township - The Bradford Era: News - Ohio man drowns after fall into river in Gibson Township: News

Ohio man drowns after fall into river in Gibson Township - The Bradford Era: News - Ohio man drowns after fall into river in Gibson Township: News: An Ohio man drowned on Saturday morning after falling from a bridge into the Driftwood Branch of the Susquehanna River in the area of Tunnel Hill..



Michael Tarbet, 53, of Alliance, Ohio, was walking with a few friends on a railroad bridge leading across the waterway to a camp when he took a tumble into the water, according to Sinnemahoning Volunteer Fire Department chief Jeff Oiler on Sunday afternoon.

Oiler said he was told that Tarbet may have been partially blind and had mobility issues.

When Tarbet fell, those that had been accompanying him made their way back to their vehicle and drove to the main road looking for help, and that’s when they flagged down a state trooper that was in the area, according to Oiler.

Oiler said Tarbet’s companions estimated approximately 10 minutes passed between the time he fell until they found the state trooper, who initiated action on part of emergency responders.

“We were already about 15 minutes behind the eight-ball when the dispatch came through,” Oiler said. “A lot of that area is not accessible other than by foot, so it was hard to get in to look for him. Besides that, the water was very high and moving pretty fast — and it was cold.”

Oiler said Renovo’s water rescue team was nearby with a boat ready to go, having been stationed at George B. Stevenson Reservoir in Sinnemahoning State Park for the safety of boaters for the Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic. He said that event, which was to be held on the Susquehanna River, was moved to the reservoir specifically because of the water conditions on Saturday.

Assistant fire chief Adam Johnson said members of the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department arrived at Bennett’s Farm, where Tarbet was found, and assisted in the recovery of the body.

“Unfortunately, with the water being so high and fast. It’s just an unfortunate set of circumstances,” Johnson said.

Emporium-based state police issued a news release pinpointing Tarbet’s location when he was discovered as seven miles southeast of where he fell into the water. Upon recovery, Tarbet was pronounced deceased by Cameron County coroner Ted Walters, who determined the cause of death as drowning.

Members of the Sinnemahoning and Emporium VFDs and state police were assisted on scene by members of the Renovo Volunteer Fire Department, Sinnemahoning Ambulance Service, Cameron County Emergency Management Agency and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.