Investigators say Michigan man pulled from river near Tarentum Bridge drowned accidentally at scene

Authorities say a Michigan man who was found dead in the Allegheny River several hundred yards downstream from the Tarentum Bridge on Thursday drowned accidentally at the scene.

Tirrell Lamont Smith, 40, of Grand Rapids was found unresponsive in the water a short time after first responders arrived because someone called 911, according to investigators.

An Allegheny County police spokesman said authorities do not yet know why Smith was in the Pittsburgh area or near the bridge, and there were no witnesses to the incident.

Investigators said there are no indications of foul play.

A Tarentum police officer who got there several minutes after the 3:04 p.m. call began the search by being ferried along the river near the boat launch by a private boat owner.

A water rescue team from Eureka Fire Rescue EMS arrived a short time later to retrieve the body near the middle of the river.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:20 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office, which performed and autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death.

A Kittanning-area man who had been fishing near the bridge since about 1 p.m. that day told the Tribune-Review he didn’t see or hear anybody fall from the bridge or enter the water from the shore.

Several boaters were asked to pull their watercraft out of the water, and the marina was closed during the search.

Tarentum police initially investigated but turned the case over to the Allegheny County Police, which typically is the practice with fatalities.