ONEIDA COUNTY -- Three teens had to be rescued today from the swift and swollen waters of the Black River. The Oneida County Sheriff's Department says a group of five teens were swimming in the water near a dangerous low head dam just south of Hawkinsville Road in the hamlet of Hawkinsville. The sheriff's department says Katie Smallridge, 17, of Boonville and Corinne Marmone, 18, or Forestport, were walking on top of the dam when one of them slipped and grabbed on to the other, sending them both into the water. A third teen, Jamie Cooley, 17, of Boonville, then jumped in to try and help her friends. Two friends who were also with the girls, Robert Kraeger, 19 and Josh Walters,16, tried to rescue the girls by tying towels, their belts and whatever else they could find together and throwing it to them. When that didn't work they called 911.
Members of the Boonville Fire Department arrived to find the teens clinging to a rocky outcrop about forty feet from the shore. Rescue lines and vests were thrown to the girls and they were pulled to safety. The sheriff's department says the river was swift and swollen because of the recent rain and running six to eight inches over the dam in the area. Smallidge and Marmone received some minor cuts and bruises.
