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Near Misses
Accidents that could have resulted in a fatality, but did not.


03/13/2007

Teen rescued from flooded mine tunnel

Five people were cited for criminal trespass after police and emergency crews had to rescue one of them from an old limestone mine in Hillsville, PA. Police were called to the quarry after a 17-year-old male became stranded in a tunnel filled with water.

The young man and his 25 year-old brother were on a raft when it started to deflate. The older brother swam to shore, but the teen became stranded on a ledge. Three others were waiting on shore.

Fire crews from Mahoning and Neshannock townships responded and used a rescue boat to get Pitts out of the tunnel.

The old limestone quarry is private property and large boulders block its entrance. One Mahoning Township had to send equipment to move the boulders so emergency crews could get in.

An ambulance at the scene treated the boaters.

Police said they have had problems keeping people away from the area.

(Source: The Vindicator, Youngstown, OH)



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