In field trip with a lesson, dad, son visit drowning site

Juniata father P. Mendez biked over to Tacony Creek yesterday afternoon with his son, Zachary, in search of a lesson amid tragedy.

A day earlier at the same spot, Michael Jenkins, 14, drowned after he jumped off the bridge on Fishers Lane near Ramona Street about 2:55 p.m., police said.

The marine unit pulled the teen's body from the water an hour later.

Said Mendez, 40: "I brought him here to make sure he understands that this is not where he's allowed."

Mendez turned to Zachary, 8. "Are you going to swim here?"

The young boy answered, "No. It's too dirty."

Indeed, parts of the creek were murky and deeper than they appeared.

Michael was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital, where he died at 4:10 p.m.

His 13-year-old friend jumped in after him and tried to save him, but he, too, was pulled under, police said. The friend had to give up the rescue.

"It sucks you in," Zachary said.

No one was hanging around the bridge yesterday except for the Mendezes. But Mendez believes this kind of heartbreaking accident will continue.

"I've heard other kids drowned here," he said.

"That's a swim hole that's popular," said Lt. Rick Sysol, of Northeast Detectives. " . . . I've been working [on the force] for 18 years and I've become familiar with that spot."

He said he can remember at least two deaths at the Fishers Lane bridge.

"As soon as the weather turns warm, any kid who doesn't have a swimming pool, membership in a swim club or [access] to a fireplug to cool off, they go there," he said. "It's the poor man's swimming hole." *

Staff writer Dana DiFillipo contributed to this report