Press Release

NORTH WEBSTER — Conservation officers are investigating an incident where two boat operators had to be rescued from Shock Lake in Kosciusko County.

Around 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, Kosciusko County Dispatch received a call in reference to two sinking boats on Shock Lake.

Dalton Stiver, 25, Cromwell; and Charles Stiver, 47, Syracuse, were water testing a boat when it began taking on water.

While attempting to keep the vessel they were testing afloat, their second boat also began taking on water.

Both boats quickly sank, leaving both operators in the water without personal flotation devices (PFDs). They were able to hold on to the submerged vessels until rescue personnel arrived.

Turkey Creek Fire rescue personnel were able to launch an air boat and safely retrieve the Stivers from the water.

Both operators were issued for not having wearable PFDs on the watercraft as required by law. Conservation officers remind all boaters that wearable PFDs are required for every person on a boat.

Conservation officers were assisted by Turkey Creek Fire, Turkey Creek EMS, North Webster Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police and DNR Public Access North.