ARDEN, W.Va. — A Michigan man is dead after drowning in the Tygart Valley River in Barbour County.
Tyreon Terrell Jackson Thompson, 18, of Detroit, Mich., jumped into the water off Moats Falls near Arden just after 6 p.m. Wednesday, but never came back up, according to Barbour County Sheriff Brett Carpenter.
“It started out as a rescue attempt but ended up as a recovery. He did not survive,” Carpenter said.
Thompson was found Wednesday evening about two and a half hours after the search began.
Carpenter said people are drawn to that area of the river because of the large rocks but it’s a dangerous location.
“The rocks seem to bring everybody down there because it’s a land bridge but it’s treacherous. It’s not made for swimming–that’s for sure,” Carpenter said.
It’s been seven years since there’s been a drowning in that area, the sheriff said.
Thompson was visiting family in the Clarksburg area.
Carpenter said it’s not sure if alcohol may have contributed to the incident. An autopsy from the state Medical Examiner’s Office is pending.
State Police, the Philippi Police Department, the Junior Fire Department, the Belington Fire Department, the Philippi Fire Department, the Elkins Fire Department and the Nutter Fort Fire Department along with members of the Barbour County EMS Squad all assisted in the water rescue.