Kevin Alan Washington died attempting to save Jeramie L. Kelley from drowning, Petersburg, Illinois, April 16, 1983. While fishing, Jeramie, 6, slipped from a steep bank into the Sangamon River, which was turbulent and swollen as a result of heavy spring rains. Among those attracted was Washington, 27, insurance salesman, who dived into the river and began swimming to Jeramie. In spite of the strong, fast current, Washington caught Jeramie and held him moments before the two submerged when they were swept into rapids at an old dam. Washington surfaced briefly beyond the rapids but submerged again. Jeramie did not resurface. Both drowned.
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