Man found in Gilpin river search taken to hospital; police investigating
A West Leechburg man who was the subject of a Kiski River search Tuesday night in Gilpin was taken to a hospital with an apparent unrelated medical condition, according to township police.
Police Chief Chris Fabec did not identify the 39-year-old man, citing medical privacy issues. He said the man was at the river for “nontraditional reasons” that did not involve fishing or swimming.
“He was there for about three hours, and it was determined later on that he was trying not to be found,” Fabec said.
A resident of Banfield Road was talking to the man and called police and 911 when he saw him go under the water and then lost sight of him, the chief said.
Crews from the Gilpin and Leechburg fire departments were called out before 9:45 p.m. Tuesday to search along the river, according to Gilpin firefighters.
Watercraft were deployed in the search centered around 150 Banfield Road, near Leechburg. Firefighters from Vandergrift, North Apollo and Markle were called to assist, according to an Armstrong County 911 dispatch supervisor.
After a roughly two-hour search, boat crews using lights spotted the man on the river bank about a quarter-mile upstream, Fabec said.
He said the man appeared uninjured but was evaluated by medics and taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh with medical complaints not related to being in the water.
Fabec said police are continuing their investigation and that charges could be filed.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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