(WKYT) – Emergency management officials say a search for a missing 25-year-old man at Herrington Lake could take two to three days, following a boat collision on the Fourth of July that sent several people to the hospital.
Officials say a wake boat struck a pontoon carrying a family around 8 p.m. on July 4, causing one person to go missing after falling into the water. A command center has been established at the lake’s Pandora Marina.
A GoFundMe was set up for one of the men injured in the collision. According to the GoFundMe, he is in a medically induced coma, and the extent of his injuries and path to recovery is unknown.
The fundraiser has raised over $35,000, and the GoFundMe said funds raised will help cover essential living costs for the family.
Injuries reported, one person airlifted
Several people were injured in the crash. One person was airlifted to the University of Kentucky hospital. Others were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Danville.
The missing man, believed to be of Ukrainian descent, was preparing to go tubing before the collision occurred, according to Mercer County Emergency Management Director Brad Cox.
“A boat hit a pontoon that had a family on it. One of the victims fell into the water,” Cox said.
Multiple agencies join search
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife first responded to the incident. Personnel from Garrard County and Boyle County are now assisting in the search. On Sunday evening, five boats returned to the lake to search for the missing man.
Officials say the crash occurred in one of the deepest parts of Herrington Lake — too deep for standard rescue equipment to reach the bottom. Authorities brought in Christian Aid Ministries, a specialized search and rescue team whose equipment can reach depths of 150 feet, compared to the 75- to 100-foot depth standard county equipment can access.
Cox said crews will continue searching until dusk each day and resume at sunrise.
“The optimistic side of me wants to say yes it’s a rescue mission, but knowing the time frame — we’re looking more deep water — it looks like it’s going towards a recovery,” Cox said.
Cox said the agencies involved were prepared for this type of situation.
“It’s an unfortunate incident that happened and it’s not something that we look forward to, but we do train for this type of stuff, and we have the connections to where we can make these calls,” Cox said.