(Wahpeton)– Strong wind and high waves are what caused a barge to sink last October on West Lake Okoboji that claimed the lives of two people. That word from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins says investigators reached that conclusion after an inspection of the barge turned up no signs of physical damage.
31-year-old Mathew Molacek of Wallingford and 12-year-old Collin Helmers of Estherville were on the 28-foot barge removing docks when it sunk late in the afternoon of October 23rd just off of Gull Point.
The two called a co-worker for help, reporting the barge was inoperable and was taking on water.
That was the last the two were heard from. Molacek’s body was recovered a couple of days later; the barge was brought up October 28th. Helmers’ body still hasn’t been found, despite a two-month search by dive and sonar teams from as far away as Idaho and Georgia.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story).
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