Harpers Ferry Adventure Center guide dies
By Mike Lewis mlewis@herald-mail.com
Aug 2, 2019
A guide for Harpers Ferry Adventure Center died after an
incident on the Potomac River Thursday. Authorities identified the victim as
Michael Clevenger, 32, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Clevenger was working at the
time of the incident, which was reported about 6 p.m. His duties were to help
afternoon tubers on the journey from Lock 34 to just below the U.S. 340 bridge,
according to an email from the Maryland Natural Resources Police. His body has
been taken to Charleston, W.Va., for an autopsy.
In an email, Maryland Natural Resources police reported that
a kayaker found another person, later identified as Clevenger, in a kayak
sideways on a rock in some rapids near the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National
Historical Park. Clevenger was wearing a lifejacket but was partially
submerged, the email states. The kayaker realized Clevenger was not breathing
"and gave CPR before hauling the victim aboard his own kayak and traveling
further downstream to a safer location where he called 911," the email
states. The kayaker continued
administering CPR at Potomac Wayside, the Virginia side of the U.S. 340 bridge,
until emergency crews arrived.
Clevenger was taken to Jefferson Memorial Hospital in
Ranson, where he was pronounced dead. Calls and emails to the Harpers Ferry
Adventure Center were not immediately returned.
Kayaker pulled from Potomac River below U.S. 340 bridge
Dave McMillion
Aug 1, 2019
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — A kayaker was taken to Jefferson
Medical Center in Ranson on Thursday evening after a water rescue on the
Potomac River below the U.S. 340 bridge, authorities said.
The incident was initially reported to Washington County 911
as a drowning, according to a supervisor at the 911 center. But authorities
could not confirm the person's condition Thursday night. The 911 supervisor
said it was reported that the kayaker was with some friends who helped with the
rescue.
The individual was removed from the water on the Virginia
side of the river, said Capt. Melissa Scarborough of the Maryland Natural
Resources Police. The incident was reported about 6 p.m.
