Elsewhere in Columbiana County
Missing Negley man found unharmed
By TOM GIAMBRONI/tgiambroni@reviewonline.com
NEGLEY — An elderly Negley man who went missing Saturday was found chilled, wet but relatively unharmed about five hours after he left on foot to purchase a newspaper at a local convenience store.
James A. Martin, 74, of North Front Street, was flown by helicopter to a Youngstown hospital after searchers found him slumped against the bottom of a train trestle abutment not far from his home about 12:15 p.m. yesterday.
This followed a two-hour search that involved the U.S. SARR Corps —a volunteer search-and-rescue organization —a StatMedEvac helicopter, the Negley Fire Department and the Columbiana County sheriff’s deputy.
Negley firefighter Allan Young, who is also a detective for the sheriff’s office, was among the searchers who came across Martin sitting against the stone abutment at the base of the short train trestle that spans Leslie Run just south of the Bye Road/state Route 170 intersection.
“At this point it doesn’t appear there was anything life-threatening other than the exposure,” Young said of Martin, who was conscious and alert.
Searchers went to the semi-wooded area after the helicopter crew spotted something blue next to the trestle, which turned out to be the piece of a blue tarpaulin. On their way to the trestle they saw Martin propped against the abutment.
“Had there been leaves on the tree they may have never seen him,” Young said.
Martin lives about a quarter mile away and, according to Young, he left his home about 5:30 a.m. to walk to Gorby’s Market to purchase a newspaper. After finding the newspapers had yet to be delivered, Martin returned home. His wife said Martin set out for Gorby’s again at 7 a.m. and after he failed to return by 7:30 a.m. she went to the store and learned he never showed up.
The fire department was notified about 9 a.m. and SARR by 9:30 a.m. Young said StatMedEvac was also contacted because they conduct limited helicopter air searches when possible. Searchers believe Martin may have been cutting across the trestle to go to Gorby’s because his relatives said he often walks the railroad tracks. He also had health problems that may have contributed to the situation.
Young said Martin was wearing a light jacket, T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. It was raining Saturday morning and Martin was wet, although officials wondered if he might have been in the stream at some point given the saturated condition of his clothing.
Ron Wisbith of SARR Corps said the wet weather and temperatures in the 40s combined to create a potentially dangerous situation for Martin, who was treated at the scene for hypothermia.
“This is dangerous weather ... Core body heat can drop 20 times faster when your clothing is wet,” he said.
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