1 dead, 1 missing after Colbert County boat crash

COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — An aluminum fishing boat crashed with a commercial tugboat Saturday night on Pickwick Lake near Florence Harbor, causing the death of one person and the disappearance of a second.

The crash happened at about 9:15 p.m. The Sheffield Fire Department says one person was found dead the night of the crash, but that the second person is still missing.

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the passengers on board the fishing vessel went overboard in the crash.

The United States Coast Guard, ALEA’s Aviation Unit and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division are still searching for the missing boater.

“We did at one point have an area of interest that we were looking at after putting divers in the water. It was not the fisherman that we were looking for. It was a foreign object. So that was very frustrating,” said Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine. “You know, we’re trying to bring some closure at this point. We’re dealing with more of a recovery than a rescue. We’ve explained that to the family, and that’s always tough. But we’re not going to quit until we can bring some closure and find their loved one.”

Sheffield Fire Chief Matt Mothershed said that they have had people searching for the boater by helicopter and boats in and out of the harbor searching for crash debris.

“They are bringing those pieces back to shore as evidence in the investigation into what caused this crash,” Mothershed said.

Authorities said they would be wrapping up the search for the night. The search will continue Monday morning.

This is a developing story, and News 19 will provide updates as more information becomes available.