Two males, went out at night in a motorized canoe that was overpowered and unregistered.  Neither had a life jacket on as required by law in a canoe.  No throw cushion was known to have been on board.  No signaling device was found after a search after the accident.   The capsize into the cold water (58 degrees) was caused by a lean by occupants during a turn.  One victim was the operator who had been drinking with one identified witness. (This witness had stayed on shore and told Officer a couple of months later during a chance meeting that he had the two life jackets with him and that the victims did not take them.)  The operator would become the  fatality.  After the capsizing, both victims stayed with the boat until they decided some 15 minutes later to swim for the shore.  The victim/operator  was heard to struggle in the water with a mouth full of water and was not heard from again by the surviving victim who made it to shore after an estimated 30 minutes in the water.
Elephant Butte                