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Search for man, 22, who went missing in Ohio River called off for 2nd day

MONACA, Pa. — The search for a man who went underwater in the Ohio River in Monaca Wednesday night and never resurfaced resumed Thursday.

Beaver County 911 dispatchers said crews were called to the Monaca Boat Launch on Atlantic Avenue around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

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Police said a group of people were swimming and jumping from the dock along the river when the current swept 22-year-old Jason Moore underwater.

One of Moore’s friends at the scene said the group tried their best to find Moore but were unable to locate him.

Emergency crews continued recovery efforts Thursday morning. Family and friends gathered earlier to look for Moore.

"He knew the water. It only takes one chance, one thing to go wrong and the Lord took him,” said Robert Lee, Moore’s stepfather.

At one point Thursday afternoon, Moore’s family was led to believe there was a break in the search and the chance for closure.

Channel 11 was there as police moved family members away from the river, believing they had found a body. However, officials later said it was a false lead.

"They found something else, wasn't a body or anything,” family friend David Gould said.

Meanwhile, Moore’s mother, Becky Moore, said she hopes this incident serves as a lesson to other young people in the Monaca community.

“Please, parents and teenagers, the river is dangerous. Kids, everyone, don't play in the river,” she said. "I just want my son found.”

John Hudson of Security Consulting Solutions, Inc. told Channel 11 that a drone was being used in the search with the hope of expediting the process.

“What we were able to do is eliminate areas that would be otherwise difficult to traverse through. For example, the lock and dam,” he said.

While dive crews were called off for the evening Thursday, Hudson said he planned to continue using the drone to search until sunset.

WPXI

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