Lawrence Co. coroner says canoeist drowned

By Jeanne Starmack

The canoeists got into trouble in the swift current.

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Lawrence County Coroner’s office has released the cause of death for a man who was pulled from the Shenango River on Saturday night.

Gregory R. Radich, 46, of West Pittsburg drowned, said Lawrence County deputy coroner Richard Johnson.

Three friends were with Radich when the accident happened. The group was traveling in two canoes. Radich and his girlfriend, Freda Nelson, went into the river when their canoe overturned north of the Reliant Energy power plant in Taylor Township, according to New Castle police. They were found two miles north of the plant.

In the other canoe were Richard Moffett, 47, and Terry Hill, 48, both of Wampum, Pa.

Moffett told police he was unable to help the two because the river current was too strong. He said he continued downstream to the power plant where he asked an employee to call 911.

Fire departments responding included those from New Castle, Taylor Township and Slippery Rock Township.

“It’s rough right now,” Moffett said Monday. “I tried to save him and I couldn’t.” Moffett said he and Radich, who is from the area, grew up together.

Radich had been in a car accident and was not working at the present time, Moffett said.

When rescue crews found Nelson and Radich in the river, she was holding onto tree limbs in the water, the police report said.

Radich was unconscious, and she was holding his head above water, the report said.

The two were taken out of the river by the Neshannock Township Fire Department’s rescue boat, and taken to Jameson Hospital. Radich was pronounced dead there.

starmack@vindy.com