COLUMBUS – A Columbus man who jumped into the rain-swollen Olentangy River in Worthington Thursday morning to rescue his dog drowned despite the efforts of personnel from Worthington and Columbus.
A witness called 911 to report that a man, identified as Joseph Crites, 67, was walking a dog at approximately 11:08 a.m. when the dog went into the river north of Antrim Park, said Worthington Division of Police Chief Jerry Strait, Jr.
Crites jumped into the water to rescue the dog, was pulled under the currents and was unable to escape the low head dam, Strait said.
Worthington Division of Fire personnel, with the assistance of Columbus rescue crews, deployed boats, located Crites and pulled him out of the river at approximately 11:43 a.m., Strait said.
Crites was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital by Worthington paramedics but was pronounced dead at approximately 12:10 p.m.
Strait says Crites’ chocolate Labrador retriever was able to get out of the water on its own, was turned over to the care of Franklin County Animal Control, and has since been returned to the family.
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