By Jane Prendergast
and William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Campbell County Water Rescue team members prepare to resume searching for Tilford Allen. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

As his wife and sons watched, Tilford Allen maneuvered his new Sea-Doo down the boat ramp near his house in Taylor Mill, and into the Licking River.

It was nearly dusk Tuesday and the watercraft had no lights, but he wanted to take the personal watercraft for his first ride.

He wasn't wearing a life jacket, contrary to Kentucky law and to the warning sticker attached near the Sea-Doo's ignition switch. And he didn't know how to swim.

The 39-year-old man stayed on the watercraft for less than a minute when, somehow, he landed in the water. Rescuers, with dogs trained to detect bodies, searched through the night and all day Wednesday. A swift current caused by recent heavy rains made the search more difficult.

Authorities found the Sea-Doo several miles away, police said Wednesday.

They thought they found a body about 4:30 p.m. about 40 yards downriver from where Allen went in, said Kenton County Police Chief Ed Butler. A camera detected something, but malfunctioned and authorities were waiting Wednesday night to get the camera fixed to take another look before sending divers down to search.

Relatives stood at the water's edge, watching, as the Campbell County Water Rescue boat trolled through the muddy water around the boat ramp off Locust Pike near Ryland Heights. Family members didn't want to talk to reporters, but they shared relevant details with searchers, including that Allen was on his new Sea-Doo for just seconds before they saw him disappear into the Licking.

David P. Parks, 28, who has lived next door to the Allen family for his entire life, said Allen was a good neighbor.

"He was really a super guy. I just can't believe it," Parks said.

Allen is married and the father of three young sons and an adult daughter, Parks said. Until recently, Allen operated a used car lot and wrecking service on Kellogg Avenue in Cincinnati, he said.

"He helped people out," Parks said. "If someone needed a ride, he would give them a ride."

News of the accident stumped personal watercraft experts, who said it's rare to see riders without life jackets. Ohio law requires operators and riders to wear the jackets as well.

Sea-Doo requires salespeople to give buyers a safety video, said David Fricke, a salesman at Beechmont Motor Sports, a Sea-Doo dealer. The buyer has to sign a form saying he received the video, which focuses heavily on wearing life preservers, he said.

"Right on top of it, where you start the engine, there's a sticker with the rules on it," Fricke said. "The first thing it says is do not operate this without a life preserver."

Kentucky and Ohio boating laws require everyone on a personal watercraft to wear a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Both state laws also prohibit watercraft operators from riding between sunset and sunrise.

Allen went in the water about 8:30 p.m. The sun set 16 minutes later.

Email jprendergast@enquirer.com