Storm capsizes boat on Geneva Lake; three children pronounced dead
The boaters attempted to navigate to safety when the storm struck but were overwhelmed by high winds and waves, according to Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner. The vessel capsized and later sank.
Rescuers quickly helped the adults and one child out of the water, but three children remained missing. After an intensive search, authorities located all three. Rescuers administered lifesaving measures at the scene and en route to a hospital, but all three children were pronounced dead.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those, not only of those people, but the people who were injured as a result of the storm,” Hausner said. “We know that there were many injuries, people transported to local hospitals and diversion from the hospitals because of the number of injuries.”
The storm struck at approximately 12:10 p.m. Friday, and 911 calls began arriving around the same time, Hausner said.
A source told CBS News Chicago that the three victims are believed to be younger than 13.
A squall line of storms moved into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin Friday morning and early afternoon, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph, according to The New York Times. The storms knocked out power to nearly 514,000 homes and businesses across Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin as of Friday night.
The deaths remain under investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.