Three men were in a canoe that flipped throwing them all into the water.  One individual was able to swim to shore and retrieve another boat.  He was able to go back and get the second victim into the boat with help from a neighbor.  The other victim had disappeared in the water.  The three subjects set out in the afternoon to do some fishing and drink some beer.  About ten minutes into their trip, the owner of the canoe started to fish while the other two subjects paddled, as they took turns paddling and fishing the subject in the front was attempting to get a cigarette out and dropped them from his pocket.  As he dropped them he attempted to catch them causing the canoe to become unstable and capsize.  All three subjects were ejected into the 33 degree water, an attempt was made to get back into the canoe which resulted in it flooding.  The subjects decided they needed to swim to shore in order to survive.  The owner made it to shore, went to his garage and retrieved a small jon boat and went back out on the river to save the other two subjects.  The owner made it to one of the subjects and was able to get him to shore where the fire departments and EMS were waiting.  The third subject was last seen in the middle of the river near the swamped canoe and was seen going under the water just before the Sheriff's Department got to the area of the canoe attempting to save him.  The subject in the middle of the canoe was seated on a plastic lawn chair placed in the canoe and there were only two life jackets on board.  Neither of the life jackets were used or attempted to be used and were located in or near the swamped canoe when the Sheriff's Deputy got to the canoe.  It is the opinion of the investigating officer that due to improper seating and high center of gravity in the canoe contributed to the instability of the canoe and the quick movement by the subject caused the capsize.  A search for the missing subject continues, but high water and flooding conditions have made it difficult.  The search continues for the missing subject.  The owner/operator was cited for  insufficient number of pfd's, failure to display valid registration, and fishing without a valid license in possession.
Moline                        