Community Bulletin
Morgan Nesland, PA-C, has joined WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital as a pediatric provider at St. Joseph's Rural Health Clinic in Buckhannon, where she is accepting new patients from newborns through age 18. Read more →
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A Cincinnati hiker was found dead Monday after being swept downstream while crossing a creek in Tucker County, West Virginia State Police said.
Thomas Donnelly, 21, of Cincinnati, Ohio, had been missing since October 11. Troopers found him in the search area about 2 p.m. the following day, according to the agency’s October 14 press release.
Police said Donnelly was among eight members of the University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club who had been hiking and camping in the Dolly Sods area since October 9.
“While attempting to cross South Red Creek near its confluence with Fisher Springs Run, the group encountered elevated water levels and swift currents caused by heavy rainfall,” according to a press release from the West Virginia State Police.
Donnelly lost his footing during the crossing, and the current carried him downstream, police said. The incident occurred as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias swept through West Virginia.
Tucker County 911 alerted West Virginia Natural Resources Police about the missing hiker around 11:39 a.m. October 11 near the Red Creek and Fisher Springs trails, according to the release. Trooper D. M. Tate and members of the Harman Volunteer Fire Department helped with the search.
Police said searchers did not find Donnelly during the initial effort.
“Search operations were suspended due to approaching inclement weather and diminishing daylight,” the release states.
The search was set to resume October 12. Sergeant Miller notified Donnelly’s parents after he went missing, and his next of kin were notified after he was found, according to the release.
