RedactedNarrative: On July 23, 2020 Operator & Occupant1 were fishing by boat below Smithand Dam on the Ohio River in Livingston County. According to a witness, Operator was operating the 18' jon boat at the time of the accident when he purposefully drove the boat into heavily turbulent water exiting gate #3 in an attempt to fish. 
  
  Shorty after reaching this position, the turbulent water battered the jon boat heavily against nearby concrete on the right side of the gate. The witness, who was close by in his own boat, went on to say that he believed the operator panicked when he couldn't reverse the jon boat out of heavy turbulence. The operator then shifted the 50hp Mercury tiller handle outboard into forward gear and increased throttle dramatically to the point that the bow of his jon boat ran directly into the concave-shaped gate and continued to climb up until the transom of the boat lost buoyancy and went underwater. It was at this point that both men went into the water, neither of which wearing a life jacket. 
  
  Through further interview of the witness investigators learned that just prior to both victims entering the water, Occupant1 was actually holding an inflatable-style Type II PFD in its inflated state. Very soon after entering the water, Occupant1 was crushed between the concrete and the violently rolling jon boat. He then disappeared underwater. Operator was still visible and conscious when the witness was able to throw him a small round buoy roughly 10" in diameter. The witness saw Operator grab onto the buoy and successfully hold it for approximately 30 seconds at which point, and for unknown reason, Operator lost his grip and then disappeared underwater. 
  
  Authorities were notified after 911 was called by the witness. Shortly after arrival, Emergency Management personel with Livingston County S&R located and recovered the body of Occupant1 in gate #4. All clothing had been stripped from his body as a result of the turbulence. Officials with Livingston County S&R began CPR on Occupant1 at 11:43 AM and continued CPR until they met with EMS officials on the riverbank. EMS then resumed life saving measures using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) at 11:52 AM but all attempts were unsuccessful. 
  
  Operator' body wasn't located until the following date on 7/24 at approximately 2:45 PM. The step-son of Operator and the son’s cousin found Operator' body floating several hundred yards downstream of the dam near the current dikes off the longest lock wall. Operator was also recovered with nearly all articles of clothing stripped from his body minus velcro-strapped sandals on his feet, boxer briefs and one glove on his right hand. 
  
  In both instances of recovery, the victim's bodies were immediately taken into possession by the Livingston County Coroner's Office. 
  
  