OAN Staff Avril Elfi
Sunday, July 28, 2024 8:58 AM
A pontoon boat carrying 11 people capsized on Lake Powell in northern Arizona, killing one woman and two young children.
advertisement
A call was made to the National Park Service’s (NPS) Glen Canyon Regional Communications Center shortly after 3 p.m. Friday reporting a boat capsizing on Lake Powell near Navajo Canyon.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said the 25-foot pontoon boat was being towed by another vessel when it was capsized by a wave, trapping several of the 11 passengers on board.
“It’s not uncommon for us to investigate fatalities on the water periodically throughout the year, but the magnitude of this incident, with three people killed and two seriously injured, is not an everyday occurrence and it’s certainly a tragedy,” said Lt. Adam Simonsen with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a tragedy for everyone involved.”
When park rangers from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area arrived on scene, they found several people still in the water and one person standing at the bottom of the capsized boat.
Some passengers remain missing, but the sheriff’s office reported that nearby boaters were helping people out of the water. Officials said two people were transported by medical helicopter to a nearby ambulance for treatment as the search continued.
Melissa Bean, 72, and two 4-year-old boys were pronounced dead, authorities said.
The number of injured is still unknown, but authorities claim all passengers have been found, two of whom are in a critical condition.
Stay up to date! Receive the latest news directly in your email for free. Sign up here: https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisement below
Please share this post!
