20 year-old Gratiot man dies after weekend accident on Seneca Lake

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Steven Michael Newsom Jr.

By Christine Holmes, News Director

A  20 year-old West Muskingum High School graduate from Gratiot has died due to injuries from a boating accident on Seneca Lake Sunday afternoon.

According to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Steven Michael Newsom Jr. was tubing with three other men around his age when they hit a wake, causing Newsom to hit heads with the person next to him.

Newsom began complaining of a headache, so he was returned to shore with his family who later called park rangers for medical assistance. He was then taken to Southeastern Medical Center in Cambridge around 4 p.m. before being transferred to Columbus.

According to his obituary, Newsom died the next day, July 16, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

A report from the accident indicates everyone involved in the accident was practicing safe boating. According to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, each person tubing was wearing a life jacket, the tubing equipment was safe and no alcohol was suspected to be on the boat driven by a 47 year-old man.

Calling hours for Newsom, who served in the United States Army, are currently underway, Thursday evening, until 8 p.m. at Snouffer Funeral Home on West Military Road in Zanesville. The funeral is Friday at 11 a.m. at Snouffer Chapel with a full military honors burial to follow at Zanesville Memorial Park.