7/31/10 Madison County, ID Boat overturns in Madison County, one man missing.  Search and rescue crews and deputies from Jefferson and Madison Counties are searching for a man who is missing in the Snake River after the boat he was in overturned Saturday night.  Deputies with the Madison County Sheriff's Office said that 3 men were in the boat when it overturned before 7 pm.  Two of the men were safe and uninjured but one man was still missing.  The missing man is from Palisades.  The two men safe were from Salt Lake City.  They were visiting the man from Palisades.  One of the men on board said that the boat hit a pillar on the highway 20 bridge on the Snake River at the Jefferson-Madison County line.  The passenger said the boat capsized at about 6:45 pm and siad that the victim was conscious and swimming but never made it to shore.  Crews were searching the Snake River near the Lorenzo boat dock area with boats and jet skis.
Update:
At 9:30 pm on Saturday night, 55-year old male from Swan Valley was found dead in the Snake River.  His body was found a mile away from his boating accident, he was caught in a tree.
Last night about 6pm, three men were on the Snake River when their fishing boat hit a whirlpool.  They tried to navigate it through the current but the turbulence was too much.  Their boat capsized, possible hitting a pillar on the Lorenzo Bridge.  The three men were thrown from the boat.  Althought the boat contained enough life vests, no one had one on.
The three men clung to the upside down boat.  Two men tried to swim to shore, but only one made it.  The other man drifted down river with the boat and was picked up by a passing boat.  
The victim was not able to reach the shore.  He got lost in the fast paced river.  Madison County Sheriff's Department received the emergency call at 6:09 pm and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department at 6:20 pm.
Both Madison and Jefferson County joined together for the search.  They used boats, jet skis, and a private helicopter.  Jefferson County Sheriff said the private helicopter was a huge help in the rescue mission.  The helicopter spotted him and rescue boat were sent to the scene.
The boat was lodged 150 yards away, submerged in a channel, and Sunday morning crews were sent to assist in the recovery of the boat.
The two other men in the boat were visiting the victim from out of town.  They are both uninjured.  
Jefferson County Sheriff said that part of the river is very unforgiving.  It is great fishing.  Some of the best boaters I know have never made it out of there, or have been close to losing their lives.  You have to respect it.  The river changes, channels change, go with someone who know the river.  It all happens so quickly.  And always wear your life jacket.
The boat was a Clackacraft 16' drift boat with three occupants, the operator and 2 passengers.  The operator indicated that the current pinned the boat up against the south bridge pilar of the south bound lane bridge.  The operator put his right oar down into the current in attempt to steer boat around the pilar.    This caused the boat to be pulled down into the swift current swamping the boat, all three occupants were thrown out of the boat.
All three stayed with the boat as it floated down stream approx 50 yards before becoming lodged on a sandbar.  The operator stayed with the boat while the passengers attemped to swim across the river to the north bank.  One of the passengers was helped out of the river by subjects on the north shore, while the other passenger (the victim) was swept down stream by the current.  The victim was last seen approx 200 yards down stream from the bridge trying to swim up to the north bank.  The operator was later assisted by another boat to the north shore.  The operator stated he and the victim had been drinking while floating and fishing down the river thru out the day.  An alcohol bac test was not performed.

Rigby                         