Latest news with #OhioRiver
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Heroic teen girl's brave final act before drowning in West Virginia river... as cops make two arrests
A brave teenage girl got swept away by a current and drowned while trying to save her cousin's son in a West Virginia river. Reese Hanshaw, 13, of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, tragically lost her life on June 30 when she, a group of children, and two adults, Ashley Shelton, 29 and Joshua Lockerbie, 34, took a trip to the Ohio River. Shelton and Lockerbie, of Weirton, drove six children, aged four to 13-year-old, to the river in We to swim that day when a strong current took over Hanshaw around 7pm. Hanshaw desperately tried to save the little boy near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Heavy rainfall throughout the day made the water level higher than normal, sparking dangerous conditions, the Weirton Police Department said. Officers rushed to the scene within minutes, as one cop swam out to save Hanshaw and performed life-saving measures on her. She was then taken to the hospital where she died, Weirton Police Chief Charlie Kush said. Following her sudden death, the teen's aunt revealed her final heroic act just before she drowned. 'While enjoying a summer day with her cousins, Reese heroically gave her life saving her cousin's little boy, who was swept away by a sudden rip current,' Becky Watlet, Hanshaw's mother's sister, said on Facebook. Shelton and Lockerbie, who are in a relationship, were arrested Wednesday and charged with six felonies. It is unclear what their relationship was to Hanshaw or the other children. Police said they chose to bring several children to the river despite high water levels. Investigators also noted no flotation devices were present. The couple were also aware that none of the children were strong swimmers, police said. They are both charged with child neglect resulting in death and child neglect with risk of death or injury, according to arrest records obtained by Daily Mail. Shelton and Lockerbie are being held at the Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville on a $150,000 bail each, per records. Although boats are common in the river, people don't often swim or go fishing in the water, especially in hazardous conditions, Kush told CBS News. 'You have to be responsible, you have to know the limitations of the people that you're with if you are letting juveniles do these types of things,' he explained. The police chief added that 'it was just unusual' for people to go down to that river to swim in the bad weather. Hanshaw has been remembered as a 'bright and creative spirit' who had just finished the eighth grade, her obituary read. The rising high school freshman was also 'a proud member of the Turtle Club' and was known for her 'deep love for animals.' 'A talented and imaginative soul, she enjoyed drawing, crafting, creating videos, and editing,' the page read. Watlet called her late niece a 'shining light' who was also 'kind, courageous, and full of love. 'Her selflessness and bravery will forever be remembered by all who knew her,' she continued. She went on to ask the public to help raise money for her sister and brother-in-law during this difficult time. A GoFundMe page was created by her other aunt Heather Durbin to help raise money, and as of Sunday afternoon, more than $10,500 was collected. 'We are so grateful for any support, kindness, and love you can share as we honor Reese's memory,' Watlet wrote. Several of Hanshaw's classmates posted heartfelt messages about her following her death. 'Reese, I always sat with you the few days we had left of school,' one wrote. 'We weren't close but you were always kind and I remember you giving me candy all the time and starting conversations with me when I had nobody to talk to on the bus.' Another said: 'The last remaining years of school won't be the same without. Not seeing you in the hallways will be a big change because you made everyone laugh in the hallways. Rest in peace Reese…' A funeral was held for Hanshaw on Tuesday in her hometown. This is not Lockerbie's first run-in with the law, as he was previously arrested for speeding, driving under suspension, simple assault, and theft, among other offenses, according to public records.
CBS News
19-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Meet the kayaker who's removing Pittsburghers' litter from the Ohio River
On a sunny July morning, Tom Ross of the North Hills gets in his kayak and hits the Ohio River along the city's Chateau neighborhood. His day on the way will undo the damage people are causing. Trash, litter and otherwise discarded stuff are just clumped up along the shorelines. "I think if they really knew what it looked like up close, I think they would be shocked and embarrassed," Ross said. About three times a week, Ross will go along a 2.5-mile section of the river cleaning it up. He is welcomed with scenes of trash every time. "I fill up my kayak as much as I can, and sadly, it's not even very difficult," Ross said. Litter is a problem around the world and the Pittsburgh region is no different. If you look along roadways and waterways, it's there, causing environmental damage and being unsightly. According to state Department of Environmental Protection, there are more than 500 million pieces of litter on just the roads. Ross and his wife spend part of their time in Florida and started their work there. He wondered what the litter situation was at home. "And sure enough, boy, it was way worse than I could have ever imagined," Ross said. Since the summer of 2022, Ross has been working to clean up the river and other waterways. He will find just about anything and everything: tires, barrels, kegs and even traffic cones. The most common item is plastic bottles. He picked up about 130 when KDKA-TV joined him one morning. "There's no slow in the flow. I'm not seeing any improvement. No matter how many bags I collect, I'm not seeing any improvement; it just keeps flowing in," Ross said. He estimates that he's removed more than 18,000 bottles from the Ohio River. To bring the attention of litter to others, he's created social media pages where he documents his efforts and calls on elected leaders for preventative efforts. "We cannot clean our way out of this," Ross said. And it goes beyond those in office. Ross says you don't have to go buy a kayak, but there are things we can all do, like if you see something, throw it out. "You don't have to go crazy with this. Just make a little bit of difference. If we had a lot of people making a little bit of difference, I think it would make a huge difference," Ross said. Up the creek with a lot more than just a paddle is how you will find Ross. You can follow his work on X and Instagram at TommyPicsUpTrash.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
2 adults charged after 13-year-old Washington County girl drowns in West Virginia
Two adults are facing charges after a 13-year-old Washington County girl drowned while swimming in the Ohio River in West Virginia. Ashley Shelton, 29, and Joshua Lockerbie, 34, of Weirton have been arrested and charged with one felony count of child neglect causing death and five felony counts of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, Weirton police announced. On June 30, police said Shelton and Lockerbie took six kids ranging in age from 4 to 13 to the Ohio River to swim near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Heavy rain throughout the day made the water levels high, and police said 13-year-old Reese Hanshaw of Burgettstown drowned after she was swept away by the current. Police said there were no flotation devices, and both Shelton and Lockerbie knew that none of the children were strong swimmers. Both Shelton and Lockerbie were arrested on Wednesday, arraigned and given a $150,000 bond. Both of them were incarcerated at the Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville. According to the Child's Safety Network, nearly 900 children and adolescents ages 0-19 die every year in the United States from unintentional drowning. For children ages 5-19, the network says drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- The Independent
13-year-old girl drowns trying to save cousin who was swept away by sudden current in West Virginia river
A 13-year-old Pennsylvania girl drowned after getting swept away by a strong rip current while trying to save her cousin as he swam in the Ohio River. Reese Hanshaw, of Burgettstown, was swimming with some of her relatives Monday around 7 p.m. near the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Weirton, West Virginia, when she got pulled away by a strong current, WPXI-TV reported. The teen had jumped into the stream to try and help when one of her younger cousins, as he was struggling to swim amidst the strong currents, got pulled away in the process, her family said. Police and EMS responded to the section of the river within minutes and brought Reese to shore. Life-saving efforts were immediately performed before she was taken to Weirton Medical Center, where she died. Weirton Police Chief Charlie Kush told WTAE that officers were nearby and responded quickly. "She was swimming with family members, and they could not get to her,' Kush said. 'Our officers happened to be, luckily enough, in the area where they responded very quickly. And one of our officers, Officer Adam Mortimer, entered the water and swam out around 40 yards and was able to bring her back to the shore.' The teen's aunt, Becky Watlet, said her death was an 'unimaginable loss' in a Facebook post. 'While enjoying a summer day with her cousins, Reese heroically gave her life saving her cousin's little boy, who was swept away by a sudden rip current,' Watlet wrote. 'At just 13 years old, Reese was a shining light – kind, courageous, and full of love. Her selflessness and bravery will forever be remembered by all who knew her.' Another aunt, Heather Durbin, set up a GoFundMe to help Hanshaw's father, a single dad to four kids, cover funeral expenses. 'We appreciate any and all support in this trying time as we grieve the loss of someone so young,' she wrote along with the fundraiser. As of Thursday, over $8,000 had been raised.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
13-year-old Pittsburgh-area girl drowns in West Virginia
A 13-year-old girl from Washington County, Pennsylvania, drowned while swimming in the Ohio River in West Virginia on Monday. CBS affiliate WTRF reported that the 13-year-old girl from Burgettstown died after being swept away by the current near the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Weirton. The TV station reported, citing the Weirton Police Department, that officials received a call on Monday around 7 p.m. that a juvenile was pulled under the water by the current while swimming with family members. Officers responded within minutes and attempted to save the girl, who was brought ashore by first responders for life-saving measures. The 13-year-old Washington County girl was then taken to Weirton Medical Center, where she died, WTRF reported. The girl's identity has not been revealed as of Tuesday evening. The Weirton Police Department, the Weirton Fire Department and the Hancock County Ambulance Service reportedly responded to the scene. According to the Child's Safety Network, nearly 900 children and adolescents ages 0-19 die every year in the United States from unintentional drowning. For children ages 5-19, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, according to the network. Teens are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers, reported. Experts said safety tips include wearing a life jacket, adult supervision and choosing swimming spots carefully.
