Passenger 2 called 911 and advised she was fishing with 2 friends below the I-430 bridge and that the operator had fallen overboard and not resurfaced.  V1 and occupants were located on a sand bar and were taken back to the boat ramp and occupants were checked out by EMS.  Statements were taken from both.  They both stated at approximately 18:00 they launched and went west (upstream) in Maumelle Creek.  At some point they motored east (downstream) into the Arkansas River and pulled into the South bank just above the Murray Dam approximately 200 yards above the Murray Lock wall.  Around 21:00 passenger 1 was near the bow of V1, passenger 2 was in the port passenger seat attempting to get a line untangled and operator/victim was sitting in the rear pedestal seat fishing.  They said they heard a splash on the starboard side and looked up and noticed operator/victim had fallen out of his seat into the water.  They suspected he had fallen asleep.  They advised that operator/victim had an orange PFD around his neck but it was not strapped around his waist.  They advised when he went into the water, the PFD came off and was floating in the water next to him.  Passenger 1 repeatedly threw a rope in the direction of operator/victim and yelled for him to grab the rope and/or PFD.  They advised he came up 3 times gasping for air then never resurfaced.

Both occupants were administered a breath test and they each blew a .00.  From 5/7 to 5/11 searches for the victim were conducted and his body was located on 5/11 exactly were the witnesses had stated he fell in.  

At the time of this report, no autopsy results were available.
LITTLE ROCK                   