Drownings in Missouri waterways were already double last year’s numbers — two more people have died over the holiday weekend. According to the State Water Patrol, 12 people had drowned in Missouri lakes and rivers at this time last year. Sgt. Jerry Callahan says already this year, 26 people have drowned.
And he says the warmer it gets, the more search and rescues become search and recoveries.
Saturday, July 3, 30-year-old Jason Adam of Shawnee Kansas jumped off a bridge at the Lake of the Ozarks and never resurfaced. Witnesses say he and three others decided to jump from the Hurrican Deck Bridge and climbed to a platform just below the bridge floor, which is about 60 feet above the water’s surface. Divers recovered his body in about 40 feet of water.
Sunday, July 4, 14-year-old Nicholas Bosecker of Mounds, Illinois drowned in the Current River while trying to retrieve a shoe. Witnesses say he surfaced several times — the last time, he was face down. Boaters about 200 yards downstream recovered his body. The incident happened near Big Springs in Van Buren.
Neither victim was reportedly wearing a life jacket.
Callahan says alcohol also plays a big role in drownings, but that flooding is likely a contributing factor to the drastic increase in drownings this year.
There were also a number of collisions and accidents this July 4 weekend. View the Water Patrol’s incident reports in your region or statewide.