Victim was in a 12 foot jon boat on Big Sandy River when he stood up and fell overboard submerging below the surface.    

 *** On Saturday May 13, 2023 at approximately 19:37 I, Officer received a call from TWRA dispatch that a boating incident had occurred and an individual was missing at the spillway in Big Sandy (between hwy 69 and boat dock road). I contacted Benton County dispatch for more info and they advised that Benton county rescue squad was enroute. 

I called Sgt to advise of the incident and he stated he would be enroute.  Next I advised Sgt of the details as well. Officer called and asked if I needed assistance which I said yes and asked if he could grab a boat with side scan. I also contacted officer to do the same. 

Preliminary investigation determines subject was fishing from a 12 ft aluminum boat at the Big Sandy spillway.  Witnesses state Subject stood up in the vessel and fell into the water.  Subject struggled in the water and surfaced approximately three times before he was no longer able to stay above the water.  Subject was not wearing a personal flotation device.  

Accident type updated to "fall overboard and flooding"
Details added to fatal supplemental
Created Synopsis 

Notes:  This is a preliminary report and will be finalized when blood toxicology results are complete.   HIN and registration information is incomplete due to a missing HIN plate.   


BIG SANDY RIVER
BIG SANDY                     