SHEFFIELD-A search was underway late Saturday night for two boaters missing after their boat was stuck by a barge near Riverfront Park in Sheffield.
A small boat struck a barge in the river near Sheffield Riverfront Park. Emergency crews from across the Shoals were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine confirmed the incident happened around 10 p.m. on Saturday night and said that multiple agencies were on the scene, including his department, Alabama Marine Patrol, Sheffield Fire and Rescue, as well as water rescue and dive teams.
Around midnight officials at the scene reported that one of the boat’s occupants was located and the name of this person has been withheld until family members are notified.
Rescue personnel have employed sonar equipment along with divers to search the area for the second missing person. The strong current and limited visibility in the water have made the search especially difficult. Searchers will continue the search until the second person has been located.
According to witnesses the boat was reported to have struck the barge near dusk at Riverfront Park in Sheffield. The cause for the accident has not been confirmed.
Sheriff Balentine urged residents and recreational boaters to avoid the active search zone while recovery operations continue. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division is leading the investigation into the crash.
Official Statement From The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
COLBERT COUNTY — A two-vessel crash occurred involving a commercial tugboat at approximately 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and has resulted in the search for missing boaters. An aluminum fishing vessel collided with the commercial tugboat causing the individuals onboard the fishing vessel to go overboard. The collision occurred on Pickwick Lake near Florence Harbor in Colbert County.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division along with ALEA’s Aviation Unit are currently assisting in the search and recovery efforts. However, the lead agency concerning this investigation will be the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Any additional requests for information will need to be directed to the USCG, as ALEA will only be assisting with this incident.
Captain Jeremy J. Burkett/Administrative Bureau Director/Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Photo/Shoals Insider
