UPDATED: Student passes away in rafting accident

The remains of a rafter who went missing Saturday in Fayette County were recovered Monday night and identified as a Pitt student.

Robert Vega, 22, of Lancaster, was last seen on Saturday after he fell into the water while rafting at Ohiopyle State Park. The park manager designated the search for Vega, which was a recovery effort instead of a rescue effort Saturday afternoon. His body was recovered from the Youghiogheny River 7 p.m. Monday.

Pitt spokesman John Fedele said that records show Vega graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science. He had also been admitted into Pitt’s School of Law.

In addition to his studies, Vega worked as a Pathfinder for all four years that he was at Pitt. Deborah Rupert, senior associate director of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid said that, of the roughly 170 Pathfinders who usually work for the office, Vega stood out.

Vega began working for the office as a Pathfinder in his first term as a freshman.

“It is such a competitive process to be hired as a Pathfinder that not very often do we hire first-term freshmen,” Rupert said.

While Rupert occasionally has to reprimand employees for issues such as tardiness, she said that she never had to do so with Vega, whom she called “just a good, good kid,” who took a lot of satisfaction from his work.

Jim Juran, the manager at Ohiopyle State Park, said that he initially declared the search a recovery effort for several reasons. When he made that decision at 4 p.m. Sunday, Vega had been missing for approximately 28 hours since he fell into the water at a point in the river above Swimmers Rapid.

Juran said that according to witnesses, Vega’s personal flotation device had slipped off when he fell in the water, also increasing the likelihood that he had not survived.

Additionally, water levels in the river were rising, and there was a severe thunderstorm in the area. Juran said that after declaring the search effort a recovery rather than rescue, park staff continued to search for Vega’s remains, but he did not ask for additional resources for the effort.

Fayette County Deputy Coroner Alissa Williams said that Vega’s remains were found at Bottle of Wine Rapids, more than a quarter mile down the river from Swimmers Rapid.

Williams said that the coroner’s office has identified the cause of death as asphyxiation due to drowning. Williams said that Vega probably died after the accident Saturday.

Rupert said that it was unclear when there would be a memorial service for Vega. But when one is scheduled, the OAFA plans to send any Pathfinders who can attend the service to Lancaster so that they can show their support.

“All of the staff at [the OAFA] has his family and loved ones in their prayers,” Rupert said.

Juran called the incident that claimed Vega’s life a “tragic accident” that was not typical at the park.

“Hundreds of thousands of people go down this river annually without incident,” he said.

This article has been updated from an earlier version. At the time of original publication, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office was still awaiting the results from the autopsy, but has since identified the cause of Vega’s death as drowning. This article has been edited to reflect these changes.