INVESTIGATION CONTINUES IN DROWNING DEATH
Monday, July 19th, 2010 -- 10:16 AM
The Jackson County Sheriff?s Office continues to investigate a drowning on the Black River over the weekend. Sheriff deputies say two teens were fishing and swimming in a very remote area of the Black River near Hatfield around 6:45 pm, when one reported his friend missing. Jackson County Dive Team Leader Keith Cormican says crews searched the river banks first, thinking the 16-year-old may not have gone back in the river. Then, the dive team found what they feared. The victim was found approximately 30 feet from the shoreline and in waters reportedly 8 feet in depth. The bridge over the Black River on Highway K in Jackson County is about a half-mile from where the accident happened. Cormican says he believes the boys weren't being too risky. He says that makes this young person's death more difficult to comprehend. He says even though teens might resist, it's important that everyone wear life jackets, no matter their swimming ability. The Jackson County Sheriff's Department won't release the victim's name. Official cause of death will be determined after an autopsy. This incident marks the third water related death in Jackson County in the last two weeks. In an unrelated incident, two divers from Minnesota died on Lake Wazee in Jackson County last week.Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.