From the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Columbus Man Dies in Boating Accident at Indian Lake
HUNTSVILLE, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft says one person has died and another was not injured when the canoe in which they were riding became swamped and capsized late Sunday afternoon on Indian Lake in Logan County, approximately 60 miles northwest of Columbus.
Jeremy R. Kingray, 29, of Columbus, was found after a search and then transported to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine where he was pronounced dead. The incident occurred at approximately 4:40 p.m. Sunday in an area of the lake near Cranetown Island. A second male passenger in the canoe swam to shore and was released at the scene with no injuries.
A preliminary investigation revealed neither passenger was wearing a life jacket and that no life jackets were found in the canoe when the incident occurred. It is believed the 14½-foot canoe capsized due to high winds and wave action, on the 5,800-acre lake, that were sufficient to swamp and capsize it. The incident is Ohio's first recreational boating-related fatality of the year.
No other details were immediately available. The incident remains under investigation by the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
Boaters are reminded to always properly wear an approved life jacket anytime while boating and to give due regard to prevailing boating conditions and forecasted weather conditions. Additional boating safety tips, boating rules and boating education programs are available online at www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft.
