Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Short
As divers continued searching for Mike Melvin of Wytheville, authorities from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and the Radford Fire Department said alcohol may have had a bearing on the incident, which happened a few hundred yards below the Claytor Lake Dam.
Frank Gough, a game warden with the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, said the possible use of alcohol is under investigation.
Melvin, 28, who had been fishing with friends since 9 a.m. Sunday, had been drinking earlier, said Stephen Allison, who was on the boat with Melvin and another man.
However, Allison said drinking wasn't a contributing factor.
"It was just a freak accident," Allison said. When Melvin fell in, his friends tried to throw a rope to him, but he went under too quickly. Allison suggested an undertow may have been to blame.
For the third day, divers were unable to find Melvin's body and had to deal with water temperatures as low as 40 degrees, debris and time - Appalachian Power Co. needs to release water from the dam periodically.
Melvin worked in maintenance at Wythe County Community Hospital, Allison said. He had a daughter, and his wife is expecting another child in October.
Melvin was supposed to attend a birthday party for his daughter Sunday afternoon, according to Joseph Watkins, Melvin's wife's uncle.
"He was a good ol' boy," Watkins said as he stood on shore watching the rescue efforts. "He really loved his daughter. I hate to see something like this happen."
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB