(Wahpeton)– Divers have pinpointed the location of a dock barge that sank late Saturday afternoon on West Lake Okoboji. The search continues for a man and a boy who were on board. They’re identified as 31-year-old Matthew Molacek and 12-year-old Colin Helmers…both of Estherville.
Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun says crews using a graph depth finder and video camera on a barge owned by Kooima Lakes Service located the barge around 7:00 p.m. Sunday in 65 feet of water off of Gull Point. Baloun says the barge is resting on the bottom of the lake on its starboard side.
Divers from atleast three different teams returned to the scene at daybreak this (Mon.) morning to conduct a grid search of the area.
Molacek and Helmers were last heard from around 4:30 p.m. Saturday when they called another worker on a cell phone stating they were having problems and were taking on water.
The two were working for Donaldson Docks, Incorporated of Estherville. They were removing docks for the season on the west side of West Lake Okoboji.
Clothing and other articles believed to be from the barge were found on the shoreline Sunday.
Baloun says 50 degree water temperatures and the depth of the water will pose challenges to divers. He says they’re going down in shifts.
Members from atleast three different dive teams are assisting the Okoboji Underwater Search and Rescue Team.
