On Saturday September 9th at approximately 1930 hrs a barge with the Hines Furlong company was traveling on the Cumberland River upstream near river mile 151.5. The barge operator saw a PWC come into his field of view on the front starboard side and it crashed into his front tow. 

He sounded the general alarm, called 911 and started backing up. Two deck hands launched a skiff and drove to the front of the barge. 

They observed pieces of the PWC and an adult male floating in the water. He was deceased. They loaded the male onto their skiff and drove him to lock A campground boat ramp. 

Through witness and family members statements we learned that an 8 year old boy was on the PWC with the adult. A search began that evening and continued into the following evening. At 1838 on September 10th the child was recovered and was observed to be lodged underneath one of the barges that was in tow. He broke free once the barge started forward again.

Operator1 had been drinking.
CUMBERLAND RIVER
CHARLOTTE                     