UPDATE: Victim has been identified as William Hayes of Middleport, Ohio.
HARTFORD, W.Va. — A 51-year-old man kayaking on the Ohio River near the community of Hartford in Mason County died Thursday evening after being struck by a barge.
Division of Natural Resources Police told MetroNews the man was struck at around 5:30 p.m. near Hoffman Park Drive. The victim died in the river.
The victim’s name has not been released. The body has been taken to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
State police are assisting in the investigation.
The community of Hartford is just north of Mason along the Ohio River.