A tragic event unfolded on the tranquil waters of Acme Lake in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County. A kayaker, later identified as 67-year-old David A. Dirado of Hempfield Township, was found dead yesterday. The initial call to emergency crews came in at around 1:05 p.m., with efforts by local authorities and dive teams ensuing shortly after, as per a report by WPXI.
According to WTAE, Dirado was kayaking with a female companion when the watercraft capsized. Adam Krozel, Kecksburg VFD Chief, conveyed to the Trib that a neighbor attempted a rescue by swimming across the lake to reach Dirado, to no avail. The woman with Dirado managed to get safely to shore.
Tragically, the victim was not wearing a life vest when he appeared to have fallen into the lake. Krozel, who's been a fire department chief for over three decades, remarked on the rarity of such an incident at Acme Lake.
He was pronounced dead at 5:05 p.m., according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. The cause and manner of death remain to be determined. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Waterways Conservation, and Westmoreland County Park Police were among the agencies supporting the investigation into this incident.
