NEAR SUGAR CREEK, Mo. — Saturday proved to be a deadly day along the Missouri River. The Missouri Highway Patrol’s water rescue team recovered two bodies from what appeared to be two separate drowning incidents.
If you ask people who love to fish in the Missouri River, they will all tell you about the hidden dangers. If you ask the highway patrol, they will remind you about the need to take every safety precaution necessary, including wearing your life jacket.
Saturday began early for the highway patrol’s water unit who received a call about 7:00 a.m. about a fisherman in the water. For hours they searched, but found nothing. Then just after 5:00 p.m., divers found a body that’s said to be of Josh Reek.
“It’s sad, because everybody that comes out here knows how these undercurrents are. It’s sad they even get in the water. I wouldn’t even take a boat out myself,” said Carol Cogburn.
And just when divers thought they were done, they received another call from fisherman upstream reporting a body in the water.
The team responded and told FOX 4 News they found the body of a man, who appears to have been in the water for quite some time.
“You hear people talk about this river being a tracherous beast and quite honestly they are right. But if you are careful and know what the hazardous are,” said one fisherman.
Law enforcement authorities are trying to identify the second victim.
The Missouri Highway Patrol is telling people, if you plan to be in or near the water, wear your life jacket and limit your alcohol consumption.
