Authorities to investigate what led boat to capsize in La Salle Lake deaths of Indiana men

Two Indiana men were found dead Sunday evening after a search on La Salle Lake near rural Marseilles.

More than 20 agencies responded after a report was received of a 17-foot fishing boat that had capsized on the 2,000 acre lake, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire said. A 7-year-old girl also was on the boat, but she was able to swim to shore, also wearing a flotation device, Wire said. She was assisted by visitors who helped her contact her mother and grandmother.

The two men on the boat were the girl’s great-grandfather and grandfather, ages 80 and 53. The 80-year-old man was from Gary, Indiana, and the 53-year old man was from Merrillville, Indiana.

Wire said a call was made 12:06 p.m. to first responders about a distressed boat that had stalled on the lake. Another call was received later reporting the boat had capsized, Wire said. It is unclear what happened to the boat, there was no plug in the boat and wind speed was 15 mph, Wire said. An investigation is ongoing. A life jacket was found in the capsized boat, but it is not known if the men had used them, Wire said.

The men were found by an underwater ROV, which is a remotely operated vehicle, just after 7 p.m. Sunday.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday for both men. The La Salle County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the victims once family has been properly notified.

Seneca Fire and EMS was the initial responding agency. IDNR, Marseilles Fire and EMS, Morris Fire, La Salle and Grundy County sheriff’s offices, Mazon Fire, Grand Ridge Fire, Utica Fire, Coal City Fire, Newark Fire, Gardner Fire and EMS, Wilmington Fire, and the MABAS-IL Division 15 Water Rescue Team also responded.