PA Law Now Requires Warning Signs at Run-of-the-River Dams

Jon Gentile’s family is celebrating the passage of a new Pennsylvania law requiring warning signs at run-of-the-river dams, following his fatal 2022 kayaking accident in the eastern part of the state, WTAE reported.

The Fatal 2022 Kayaking Accident and the Legislative Push

Jon Gentile lost his life while kayaking with his father when they went over an unmarked run-of-the-river dam in 2022. He was an avid outdoorsman, a Bethel Park school teacher alongside his wife, Kathy, and a father to their son, Jon Carlo, who was nine years old at the time. Kathy Gentile and her family spent years advocating for legislative change to prevent similar accidents on the state’s waterways.

Those advocacy efforts culminated in a bill written by Kathy’s 24-year-old niece. Josh Shapiro signed the legislation into law on Thursday. The new measure mandates that all run-of-the-river dams feature adequate warnings along the river, addressing the reality that the hazards ahead can be extremely difficult to spot from the water without proper markers.

Jon's Family Attends Bill Signing Ceremony

Jon’s family, including his now 13-year-old son, attended the signing ceremony on Thursday. The event took place just two days before Kathy and Jon’s wedding anniversary.

“We talk about Jon every day, all the time. I will talk about Jon with him every day until the day I die,” Kathy said.

Kathy views the new law as just the beginning of her husband’s legacy. “I don’t think this is an ending point. I absolutely think this is the start of something even greater — just the general awareness on the waterways, saving lives, making our waterways a safer place for Pennsylvanians. I don’t think Jon’s legacy stops here,” she stated.

Community Recognition at Bethel Park High School

In honor of the new law and Jon’s memory, his family was recognized during the Bethel Park High School football game on Friday night. Event organizers encouraged fans in attendance to wear flannel in his honor to celebrate his life as an avid outdoorsman and educator.