Girard youth drowns

GIRARD — An investigation is underway into the death of 12-year-old boy who apparently drowned while swimming under the Girard/McDonald viaduct about 5:27 p.m. Monday.

Police said a friend of Jamel L. Smith, of East Broadway, said Smith went under the water and did not come up to the surface.

They were notified by a friend of Smith who was swimming with him and called authorities.

The unidentified youth told police and other friends jumped from a wall about 20 feet high on the west bank into the river just short of an area called “the falls.”

Rescue divers recovered Smith at at about 6:48 p.m. and took him to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown.