Search fails to find body in Brush Creek
Following another search for several hours on Thursday, dive teams found no signs of a reported body in a section of swollen Brush Creek in North Huntingdon, an EMS official said.
Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, said he intends to meet with North Huntingdon Police Chief Robert Rizzo on Friday to determine what to do next. A man on Saturday reported seeing a body floating in the creek.
A state police helicopter from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity flew over the creek from Trafford to the section of Brush Creek where a witness said he saw a body floating, Rizzo said. Authorities believe that a logjam of branches and debris in South Trafford near a bridge would have prevented any body from floating past that section of the creek.
Police are aware of missing persons in cases in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, the chief said. There were no reports of a recent missing person from that area, Rizzo said.
Firefighters and river rescue teams from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties searched for the body for several hours Saturday and Sunday. Firefighters walked along the shore and divers were in rafts in the creek. The search was called off Sunday afternoon and resumed Thursday.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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