July 17, 2017
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
A drowning at Tom Steed Reservoir has claimed the life of a 4-year-old Altus boy.
The accident happened in shallow water after the boy had been floating, innocently-enough, on a duck-shaped raft.
The Kiowa County accident happened Sunday evening just a few minutes before 7 pm.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the young boy, whose name is being withheld because of his age, was floating on a raft made in the shape of a duck.
He was in the swimming area and in shallow water, however, the report says winds were blowing 10 to 15 miles and hour and a gust caught the raft and sent it sailing out past the swimming area carrying the youth with it.
The boy fell off, submerged under the water and never resurfaced.
The OHP used side scan sonar and a drag tool to find the boy’s body which was then released to medical examiners.
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