Editor’s note: The purpose of publishing the details of the accidental drowning that occurred on May 28, 2020, at Viaduct Park as reported by the Cleveland Metroparks, is to illustrate how very dangerous the area in Tinker’s Creek around the tunnel can be and to hopefully prevent such a tragic event from happening in the future.
Introduction: This case involves the death of a 23-year-old male, Tarik L. Seaberry, as a result of an apparent drowning in the waters of Tinkers Creek. This creek runs behind Viaduct Park and Willis Picnic Area in the Bedford Park Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.
Scene: Viaduct Park consists of a paved parking lot located at street level at the corner of Taylor Street and Willis Street in Bedford. From the parking lot there is a paved walking trail that descends down to Tinker’s Creek. This is where the “Great Falls of Tinker’s Creek” can be seen from an observation deck. The water flows down the waterfall, creating many cascades and rapids in the area. There are small and large rocks throughout the creek.
Downstream from the falls is the sluiceway, also known as the “arch” or “tunnel.” The water passes through the tunnel where it comes out and runs along the bottom of the ravine located behind Willis Picnic Area. From the back of Willis Picnic Area is a bootleg foot path that goes down to the creek where the water can be accessed. The drop-off from the tunnel is usually 5-7 feet, making a waterfall. The falling water creates a resultant hydraulic current that re-circulates in a vertical pattern, trapping objects beneath the water’s surface.
Investigation: On May 28, at 2120 hours, a call came into the Cleveland Metroparks Police dispatch from Bedford Police dispatch that a male was drowning at Viaduct Park. Officers were later given more details and found out that the male had been missing underwater for approximately 20 minutes.
When the first two Metroparks officers arrived on scene, Bedford police officers were already down in the water searching. Two members of the Metroparks Dive Team arrived on scene at 21:45 hours to assist in the search/rescue. At 22:28 hours, one of the officers located the victim in the creek, underwater.
Officers removed the male from the water and started CPR, with no success. He was placed on a gurney and carried out of the ravine where he was transported to Bedford Medical Center. He was pronounced deceased in the Emergency Room. It is to be noted that the call originated at 21:21 hours and his body was located at 22:28 hours.
Witness Accounts: Three females who were directly involved with the incident gave witness statements. For this article, they will be identified simply as Witness 1, Witness 2 and Witness 3.
Witness 1 stated that around 1900 hours that day, a group of friends decided to go to Viaduct Park to hang out. When they got there they walked the paved trail at Viaduct Park down to the water and walked all the way to the tunnel.
Witness 1 observed a female (who was not with their group) go down what is described as the “rock slide.” This “slide” is on the western side of the aforementioned tunnel, where the rushing water flows over large rocks and cascades down a small waterfall where it collects into a pool before continuing downstream. This area is widely known as a popular swimming area, even though numerous signs are posted that swimming is strictly prohibited.
After the female went down the rock slide, another young female attempted to do the same, but when this female landed in the pool of water, she got caught in the current and couldn’t get out. Everyone in the area noticed that she was struggling as she could couldn’t keep her head above water.
At this time, Seaberry noticed what was happening, and he decided to jump into the water, even though he did not know how to swim. He was able to get her out of the current, but got caught in the current as well.
Witness 1 observed the male struggling, and she jumped into the water to grab him. She said that she was able to grab him and hold onto him by his shirt, but noticed that she was getting pulled further into the water because of the force of the current. She said that she had to let go of him because she was exhausted and felt that she too would have drowned had she not let go. This is when Seaberry went underwater and never resurfaced. Multiple people called 911 for help as they frantically searched the water for the victim.
Witness 1 was able to give a list of names of people who were on scene during the incident. She listed about nine other people there at the time.
Witness 2 stated that she and her brothers arrived at Viaduct Park between 1900-1930 hours, where they too walked down the paved path to the water and then walked through the tunnel to the other side of the creek. While they were down at the water, Seaberry showed up bringing the others.
While everyone was hanging out, Witness 2 noticed a female and a male swimming in the water. These individuals were not with their group and no one knew who they were.
She said that multiple people were going down the “rock slide,” at this time. She said that when one of the females from their group went down the slide, she immediately started struggling. She said that it was obvious the female was starting to drown because she could barely keep her head above water.
Witness 2 said that this is when Seaberry jumped into the water and grabbed her to knock her out of the current. She said that the female was able to make it to shore, but she heard Seaberry quietly say, “Help,” as he went underwater. She said that multiple people called 911.
She estimated that Seaberry was underwater approximately 20 minutes before the first police officer arrived.
Witness 3 said that she arrived at Viaduct Park around 1900-1930 hours. She walked down to the water through Viaduct Park and met with a group of friends that were already in the area. She stated that they all walked through the tunnel to the other side when some of the individuals from their group started going down the “rock slide.” Someone asked her if she wanted to go down the slide. She said that she was hesitant until someone told her that it was only 10- to 15-feet deep, and that it was safe.
She went down the slide and said that as soon as she hit the pool of water located under the waterfall, she couldn’t swim out because it felt like the current was grabbing her legs and pulling her down. She said that she remembered a male, and the unknown female mentioned earlier, jump into the water in an attempt to save her. The witness was unaware of who got her out of the water, but was later told that Seaberry jumped into the water and forcefully shoved her to get her out of the current that she was trapped in.
It was noted that two other males tried to get Seaberry to grab a long stick to help him out, but they were unsuccessful.
CONCLUSION: The investigation revealed no signs of foul play. A copy of this report and all photographic evidence will be turned over to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner for an official ruling. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Seaberry’s death was caused by drowning and was accidental in nature.
