On June 25, 2010 at approximately 0730, the operator fell overboard his 2010 Polarkraft fishing boat and drown.  The victim began fishing Pana Lake at approximately 0500.  His wife spoke with him at approximately 0700 prior to leaving for town.  At approximately 0800, his wife tried to contact the victim several times but was not successful.  the wife began a ground search at approximately 0900 and continued to try and make contact with the vicitm via cell phone.  At approximately 0915, subject contacted Pana PD to report an unoccupied boat he observed earlier in the morning.  subject indicated he observed the boat at approximately 0730, drifting in a cove off of 1100N road.  At approximately 1015, the wife made contact with subject2 to see if the victim had made contact with him.  subject2 indicated he had not spoke with the victim and began searching for the victim via boat.  At approximately 1100, subject2 located the boat unoccupied with the engine off.  subject2 tied the boat to the nearest dock and called 911 to report a missing person.  The boat was recovered in the cove west of 650E and north of 1100N, Shelby county.  Conservation Police Officer (CPO) arrived on scene at approximately 1242.  Pana PD was already on scene securing the area.  At approximately 1250, Shelby County Dive Team arrived on scene and began searching for the victim via side scan sonar.  I, CPO, arrived at approximately 1300.  I was briefed on the situation and I began interviewing the wife and her son. The son indicated his father fished the cove, where the boat was recovered, often, next to a large, underwater tree.  the son indicated that the vicitm would only stay out fishing for 2-3 hours at a time and was not a good swimmer. the wife indicated that the victim did not normally wear a life jacket.  

After completing the interviews, I photographed the vessel and found the trolling motor mount broke in half.  There was no damage to the prop or shaft of the trolling motor, indicating something heavy fell on top of the trolling motor.  Shelby County Dive Team along with Effingham County Search and Rescue and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, searched for the subject throughout the day and into the evening.  The searched resumed at 0700, June 26, 2010.  Effingham County Dive Team and Moultrie County Dive Team joined the search.  At approximately 1100, the victim was confirmed to be in the water approximately 30 yards off the shoreline near the location of the boat.  At approximately 1120, the subject was recovered and the Shelby County Coroner took possession of the victim at approximately 1143.  An autopsy will be conducted to show cause of death.  At approximately 1300, there was a multi-agency debriefing and agencies were free to disperse. 

Agencies involved:  Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Shelby, Moultrie, and Effingham County Dive Teams;  Effingham County Search and Rescue;  Pana Police;  Pana Fire;  Pana Ambulance;  Shelby County Police;  American Red Cross.

Supplementary reports will be filed at a later date.
Pana                          