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Search continues for missing kayaker: Officials to add more warnings on river

DAY 7 UPDATE: 

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Army Corps of Engineers held a news conference Friday to address the buoy system  after one woman died in a kayak accident and another is still missing.

Officials said there is enough signage and warnings, but in light of this accident, they are planning to add more.

Brittany Evans died when her kayak went over the dam in Edgeworth last weekend. Her friend, Helene Brandy, is still missing.

"This is the No. 1 priority for me," said Col. John Lloyd. I'm absolutely committed to ensuring we can do everything possible to prevent any future loss of life."

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Lloyd said officials plan to add seven pillar buoys to the line of buoys that already stretches across the Ohio River warning boaters about the dam.  Evans' and Brandy's families have called for a better warning system.

"I want the families and friends of these two young women to know that I hear you and we hear you," he said.

Lloyd said signs and buoys aren't enough, and there needs to be better education. To jumpstart that, the Corps is planning an educational summit in June, which will be open to the public. The date has not been determined as of Friday.

"The summit is an opportunity for all of us to come together as a community to share ideas and discuss solutions that we may help prevent loss of life in the future," Lloyd said.

The Corps initially said there were 50 warning buoys near the Dashield Dam to alert boaters. Early Friday afternoon, they said they are really 20. Officials said there was a communication error and they take responsibility for that.

DAY 5 UPDATE: 

The family of a Coraopolis woman who disappeared following a kayaking accident on the Ohio River is holding on to hope she will be found safe.

PHOTOS: Rescuers comb Ohio River, banks looking for Helene Brandy

Helene Brandy, 25, was kayaking with her friend, Brittany Evans, on Saturday when two boaters saw them go over the Dashield Dam on Saturday. Evans body was recovered on that day. Brandy still has not been found as of Wednesday.

Brandy's family members said they are speaking with their state representative in Moon Township about adding more signage between the Sewickley Bridge and the Dashield Dam to warn kayakers of dangers. The family said there aren't enough buoys in the water.

DAY 4 UPDATE: 

The Crescent Township fire chief said the river is deceiving and people don't realize the dam is there until they go over it.  There are several marker buoys between the Sewickley Bridge and the dam. The fire child said the markers warn kayakers and boaters about the danger, but it's not clear if the two women saw the warnings.

RELATED: U.S. Coast Guard & Auxiliary urge caution around dams

After family members found Brandy's bathing suit, more river rescue boats and a drone pilot came to help. The family remains at the scene and additional rescue crews arrived to search until dark.

Brandy is the owner of the kayaks. Her father was supposed to pick her and Evans up after they finished kayaking Saturday.

DAY 3 UPDATE: 

Channel 11 is talking to the family of the young woman who died while kayaking over the weekend.

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Family of kayaker devastated by her sudden death

They say that Brittany Evans was athletic and outdoorsy and played many sports. She was new to kayaking.

They are absolutely devastated by her death, and they are also praying for Brittany's friend, Helene Brandy, who was kayaking with her and is still missing.

DAY 2 UPDATE: 

River rescue teams said they couldn't use divers during their search because the area is too close to the dam. To help with the search, a drone was brought in.

"With the dam, the water is coming down pretty good and there is some debris," said Gary Bayne, of the Robinson Township Fire Department. "We can only go so far with the boats, so rather than push our boats to the max, it's easier to put the drone in the air and (be) right above the dam."

The drone did not find the second person, and crews stopped their search around 9 p.m. when it became dark. They resumed the search at 9 a.m. Sunday, but it was called off around 3 p.m. because of heavy rain.

DAY 1 UPDATE:

A woman was killed and a second person is missing after a kayaking accident on the Ohio River, Moon Township police said.

Brittany Evans, 25, of West View, died in the accident.

The incident was reported near the Glenwillard Boat Club around 6:45 p.m. Saturday. A fisherman in a boat said he saw the kayakers go over the Dashield Lock and Dam. He tried to rescue the pair, but could not.

RELATED:

1 dead, another missing after kayak accident on Ohio River

Crews recovered two kayaks and a life jacket from the river.

Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for continuing coverage.