Crews searching for man missing in Ohio River

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CLARKSVILLE, IN (WAVE) - Late Thursday night, emergency crews were attempting to locate a Clarksville man missing in the Ohio River near Harrison Avenue boat ramp.

Around 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Indiana conservation officers say a 19-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy were wading in waist-high water along the Indiana shore when both of them encountered some type of distress and went into the Ohio River.

A witness, who was out on a boat, saw the two go into the water, heard cries for help and called emergency crews to the scene. A short time later, the 12-year-old was able to make it to the shore. As of 11:30 p.m., there had been no sign of the 19-year-old, identified as Ryan Dehn of Clarksville.

Indiana State Police and Indiana Conservation officers continued to search the Ohio River using side-scan sonar equipment.

"It's very dangerous in the Ohio River, even if there is not much current at all, because of the debris and the fossil beds right here," said Mac Spainhour, an Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officer. "So this (the side-scan sonar) is able to go down and if we can locate something, then we can drop the divers straight down."

The side-scan sonar technology will allow crews to continue searching throughout the night.

The 12-year-old, who is also from Clarksville, was taken to a local hospital for treatment

thats CRAZY! i was just @ the falls yesterday.
i happened to notice myself that there was alot of ppl there yesterday just to wade/swim..... i even sen 3 guys and a girl swiming the deep hole/whirl pool off the point!! :eek:
i almost drowned over there myself as a teenager floating down through there on a truck innertube.. it's a real dangerous place for swiming! if any place should have a "no swimming" sign the fossil beds should

Pretty soon i wouldnt doubt if they put up no fishing signs.I hope this is never the case but with the increasing amount of accidents in that area will make them do it.I dont want anyone to lose there life down there and on the other hand also hate to lose one of my favorite fishing areas.

yeah there sure is a WHOLE lot more ppl that fish the area.... i believe it all started when they built the museum