Hawthorne v. DRAVO CORP. KEYSTONE DIV.

WIEAND, Judge:

Richard D. Hawthorne was drowned when the vehicle which he permitted to drift into the shallow waters of the Ohio River suddenly plunged into deep water because of dredging operations which had been conducted unexpectedly close to the river’s edge. The administrator of his estate commenced an action in trespass against Dravo Corporation, which had conducted dredging operations pursuant to permit granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER). 1 After the plaintiff’s evidence had been presented, the trial court entered a compulsory nonsuit, which the…