Reminder to wear PFD- accident on Pearl River shows why

One man dead, woman missing after boat capsizes on Pearl River
WAFB Staff
Mar 29, 2015 01:12 PM
ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA (WAFB) - Search and rescue crews are looking for a missing Folsom woman after a boating accident on the Pearl River Saturday.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office says around 5:30 p.m. they received a call about a boat that capsized on the Pearl River near lock number 3.

The boat included the operator, 41-year-old Terry O'Keefe Jr., 31-year-old Jonie Morgan and her three children.

Officials believe the boat capsized when the boat went over the lock after O'Keefe was unable to start the boat. A 16-year-old happened on the scene and spotted the mother and her 8-year-old and 6-year-old sons in the water. On his way to help, his boat also capsized sending him into the water also. He was able to grab onto the mother and two boys but the mother slipped under the water and never resurfaced. All three boys were rescued by a nearby fisherman.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, officials retrieved the 4-year-old girl after she popped up from under the boat. She had been stuck under the boat for about 30 minutes but was still able to breathe.

The body of O'Keefe was recovered by search and rescue crews at 8 a.m. this morning. They are still searching for Morgan.

Investigators say all of the children were found wearing life jackets. They believe that both O'Keefe and Morgan were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.

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