A fast-moving, destructive storm ripped through southern Wisconsin Friday, leaving three people dead after their boat overturned on Geneva Lake during the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Rescue Efforts
A City of Lake Geneva police boat and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency successfully rescued seven people from the water, but three people could not be saved, Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner said during a news conference.
Emergency crews later recovered their bodies. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three victims who died, though sources told CBS News Chicago they were all children.
The capsizing is under joint investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Storm Damage
The sheriff’s office initiated an emergency call-in of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties and the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.
City of Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause issued an emergency declaration at 12:18 p.m. after the high winds and heavy rains knocked down power lines, shattered trees, damaged buildings and left cars crushed.
Numerous storm-related injuries have been reported, forcing area hospitals to enact diversions due to the overwhelming volume of patients.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
