Drowning Victim Found, Identified At Bridgewater Reservoir

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Authorities have found and identified the drowning victim who went missing on Monday at the Chimney Rock Reservoir in Bridgewater.

The victim was identified as Michael Woskey, 37, of Somerville, Bridgewater Police Lt. Tom Rice said.

At 3:05 pm. on Monday, Woskey jumped off one of the cliffs at Washington Valley Park and began to swim across the reservoir. While he was swimming he began to struggle, police said.

"He then turned around and attempted to swim back when he went under," Bridgewater Police Lt. John Mitzak said.

When his friends lost sight of him, they called 911 for help. The Somerset County Dive team began to search the water for Woskey, Rice said.

Bridgewater Police sent out an alert around 4 p.m. on Monday closing Newman's Lane, where the main entrance to the park is located, as a result of the report.

However, the search was called off at around 9:15 p.m. due to darkness, police said.

The search resumed at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. As a result of the search the Somerset County Park Commission closed Washington Valley Park from Newmans Lane to Chimney Rock Road on Tuesday morning.

Woskey was found at around 1:40 p.m. with the help of the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and their sonar equipment.

Along with the Bridgewater Police Department the following units helped with the search: Somerset County Park Rangers, The NJSP Marine Unit, Somerset Fire and Rescue (Franklin), Martinsville Rescue, Green Knoll Rescue, Green Knoll Fire Department, The Bound Brook Police Department, Somerville Rescue Squad, Clinton Rescue, Flemington Rescue, High Bridge Rescue, Clinton Rescue, Peapack-Gladstone Rescue and Medics from Robert Wood Johnson Hospital (Somerville).

The park is owned by Somerset County and the reservoir located inside.

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