Emergency crews search for missing boat on Tennessee River

FLORENCE, Ala. (WAFF) – Emergency crews are searching the Tennessee River for a 63-year-old boater who went missing in a boating accident Saturday morning.

Officials told WAFF newspaper partner, The Daily TimesA 63-year-old man and his 13-year-old grandson were fishing when their boat hit the bridge around 11:20 a.m. Saturday.

Authorities say a boat has capsized in the Tennessee River near McFarland Park in Florence.

The grandson managed to get to the beach, but his grandfather has not yet been found.

Emergency officials say the Wilson Dam was open at the time of the collapse, but closed for the search. The doors remained locked until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, when authorities called off the search due to darkness.

Wreckage was found about four miles from its crash site about an hour after the crash was reported.

Emergency personnel returned to search the area around 7 a.m. Sunday morning, but did not find the grandfather.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Marine Patrol Unit, ALEA Aviation Unit, Florence Dive Team, Colbert Dive Team, Florence Fire, Florence Police Department, Missile Police Department, Missile Fire, Colbert County Fire EMA, Lauderdale County EMA, Sheriff’s Office The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and others all assisted in the search effort.

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