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Police: Pittsfield Township man drowned in Huron River

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A 21 year-old Pittsfield Township man is believed to have drowned after jumping off a railroad trestle into the Huron River near Ypsilanti with several friends early Sunday, police said.

"It's a drowning at this point," Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said. "The family has been notified. We are actively investigating as with any death investigation."

Jackson did not release the man's name, citing a 24-hour grace period after notifying his family members.

Police divers were still on the scene around noon Sunday searching for the man's body.

The incident took place shortly before 4:52 a.m. at the railroad trestle east of Superior Road.

"My initial description was that there were six young adults," Ypsilanti Fire Capt. Scott Maddison said. "They were on the railroad trestle over the Huron River there…. they all jumped into the water at the same time. They exited the water and they realized that there was one person still missing. They heard him call for help."

Maddison said one of the members of the group reportedly worked as a lifeguard and entered the water to assist the swimmer.

"We're speculating that he may have got disoriented," Maddison said. "(The lifeguard) went out to assist him, he started panicking."

The lifeguard was unable to retrieve the swimmer and, exhausted, had to swim back to the bridge and exit the water, Maddison said. The missing man's friends then dialed 911.

"At some point he yelled out for help," Jackson said. "His friends went out and tried to help him, but he went under."

The man had been in the water an estimated 20 minutes when firefighters called in members of the Sheriff's dive team, Maddison said.


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