Possible Drowning at Miller Road Park
Missing 23-year-old reported missing at dusk, July 4.
Photos
Updated 12:41 a.m.
Avon Lake Police and Fire departments spent more than three hours on the evening of July 4 at Miller Road Park searching for a missing Cleveland male.
A Coast Guard helicopter also assisted in the search.
Avon Lake police lieutenant Duane Streator said 9-1-1 received a call at 8:36 p.m. of a male in distress. The call was made by a person on the beach. One person went out to help the man, but was unsuccessful.
By the time the fire and police departments arrived, the man was believed to have been under water for 20 minutes.
The possible victim is a 23-year-old male from Cleveland. He was fishing near the breakwall by the power plant discharge as part of a group of six relatives.
"It's the same area where there is a dropoff," Streator said.
The man was last scene near the canal where dangerous current signs are posted. The area is buoyed off as a no-swim zone. Streator would not say whether the currents played a part in the situation. He was also unable to comment on the man's swimming ability.
Avon Lake fire lieutenant Jeff Moore said the currents during the rescue attempt were strong.
"After about two passes the divers are pretty much spent," Moore said. "When all the units are fired up (at the plant) it's a pretty significant current."
Moore said the fire department used a 41-foot rescue boat, two jet skis, two divers and two tenders to assist the divers on the lake. Some rescue personnel, including members from the Lorain County Dive Team, assisted from other cities.
The water search for the man, whose name has not yet been released, was discontinued at 12:38 a.m. July 5. Streator said his team would meet with divers to assess conditions at daylight and determine the next steps.
The Coast Guard helicopter returned to the park at 1 a.m. to conduct additionalspotlight sweeps.
Parks and Recreation Director Gary Gerrone said at the time the man went missing that there was a park attendant in the park at the time, but that the attendant is not a lifeguard.
On June 29, Avon Lake Patch wrote an article detailing the concern of a local woman and a Coast Guard member about the area and the need for more signage.
Check back for more details.
In This article
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Miller Road Park
33760 Lake Rd, Avon Lake, OH -
Avon Lake Police Department
32855 Walker Rd, Avon Lake, OH -
Avon Lake Fire Department
32811 Walker Rd, Avon Lake, OH -
Denise Emerson
11:15 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Close this park already! Noone should be swimming in sewage and with so much loss of life! Enough is enough! One life is too many
Lynn Crevda
8:38 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Agree !!!! Close that beach off once and for all...!!!
Jan Y.
11:20 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
I completely agree with Denise - enough is enough!
Lynn Crevda
8:39 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Agree !!
Matt
11:32 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
First off, this park is not in a "sewage" zone. This is one of the most tested areas of lake Erie due to the factory next door. Second, don't swim/ fish in restricted areas! It's not that difficult. My heart goes out to the victim, but don't close down an otherwise nice park because someone doesn't follow the rules. THEY ARE POSTED FOR A REASON!
Lori L
1:51 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
They need to post more signs!! BIGGER signs!! Fine those who ignore them!! Maybe the area should be patrolled!! Too many lives have been lost here!!
Rebecca
11:38 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Please check out my website at www.thecutavonlake.webs.com
I just did an interview with the patch it was posted last week check that out too.
AGAIN we need EDUCATION and SIGNAGE!!
Lori E. Switaj
2:11 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Thanks Rebecca. The article is re-featured. Timing is regrettably uncanny.
Lynn Crevda
9:06 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
EDUCATION !!! and learning to SWIM !!!
Eulla Khayat
12:07 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
We were there when this happened.Such a tragedy. He was trying to get out of the water when the wave pushed him down and that was it. Unfortunately,it took the rescue teams a while before they arrived and it was already too late.
jeremy little
1:05 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Matt that's true but have some respect there's a young man missing don't be such a ass. I'm deeply sorry for this horrible tragedy....
Lori E. Switaj
1:12 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I'm still down at the park and the family is here. This is just as tragic as it gets. They will stay all night. Respect is warranted. Keep the family in your thoughts.
LC
1:44 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/111/440/208/stop-all-access-to-deadly-areas-around-genon-power-plant-avon-lake/
Courtney
1:50 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I feel for the family and all but at least one person dies every year here because they ignore the signs. They honestly should put another one up tallying the deaths. Maybe then people would pay attention.
Courtney
1:52 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
And I realize that sounds heartless, but having a family member who works in the coast guard, and to see how depressed/angry he gets when people don't just pay attention is a little tiring in itself.
Easha
2:02 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
First of all it doesn't say he was swimming so if you feel the need to put some ignorant up don't post it at all...No one deserves to go through nothing like that and pray for his family...Love you Peedee<3
Ashley
2:10 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Please just keep your comments 2 yourself. You DON'T know how his family or friends feel. He was loved by many and for people 2 not have a HEART and don't THINK before they speak is just plain STUPID. This is not your family or friend so why would u care??? Have some respect for his family please and thank you.
Lynn Crevda
9:38 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ashley yes I do know how his family and friends feel 35 years ago a friend of mine fell off the cliff there at Miller road park..this was before the nice peir was built..he fell and didnt know how to swim...what a tradgedy it was and still is for his family...living along the lake every summer we fear we will hear those helecopters and know someones in trouble...my heart go's out to his family and friends and I pray for him and them.
Easha
2:13 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Enough said sis^^^
Ashley
2:16 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Just rude af.... Keep the negativity 2 YOURSELF people.
Courtney
2:21 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
It affects my family as well you know. Not as horribly but it sucks to watch your family constantly deal with this when there are signs that get ignored. I do feel for his friends and family. I prayed the second I heard. But it's a restricted area, he shouldnt have been there.
Ashley
2:25 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Will YOU just keep your comment 2 yourself?? You have all ur family there right?? He's still missing.... Please have respect 4 his family.... Restricted or not ....he's missing and at this point that's irrelevant.
Easha
2:35 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Long story short he's gone and that should've, could've, would've is very irrelevant!!!
Ashley
2:40 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Right sis ^^
A mom
8:41 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
So tragic, yet again. As a resident of this small town, with children, you are constantly aware of the dangers that can be found under the surface of this beautiful lake. It makes us all nasaeus every time we here a helicopter hovering over the lake. No one should have to experience this no matter if you are the victim, the friends and relatives, or the caring community of Avon Lake. God Bless that man and all that will miss him...
Lynn Crevda
9:02 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
1st of all they should never have built the access ramp to the beach when they built the pier....This people the thought that you can swim there....There are No..No Swimming signs only signs further down in the water that say " dangerous current " !!! I've lived in Avon Lake and Sheffield nearly my whole life and every summer we theres people who go to the beaches and have no clue the dangers of this lake and end up drowning..its so sad every time I read about a drowning. My father was in the Coast Guard since before I was born and trust me we have been educated on the Lake....As much as I Love The Lake I respect and fear it.. I have grown sons who have been raised hearing me tell them the dangers of this lake yet...I know they have swam there and it scares me to death.
Eden Van Guilder
11:36 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
It wasn't his fault, a wave crashed in, hit the boat, and it tipped the boat. Then he fell in. Don't close this park down!
Tressa urban
11:43 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ya I agree no one should close it. Is a great lake
LC
1:43 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
This was my brother and it saddens me that people can say such distasteful things. I have started a petition and would like for anyone and everyone to help shut this area and plant down!!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/111/440/208/stop-all-access-to-deadly-areas-around-genon-power-plant-avon-lake/
Ashley
10:56 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
Hi LC,
I signed the petition and I also passed this along 2 my fb friends. He was a dear friend of mine and like a brother, he's truly missed, and I want u to know my prayers are there for your family. I know this is VERY hard for you all. I hope God help you and your family thru this tragic loss.
P.S. I also did not like some of the comments. For someone to not even know the whole story and jump straight 2 conclusion and just heartless altogether, I feel is completely wrong.