This story played last night on the evening news. It reported that the pickup truck that plunged into the Ohio river had no camper shell, but a defective tailgate. All of the people in the back died. Here is the story:
River search for missing men still turning up nothing
By VICTORIA MARTY Henderson Gleaner
April 6, 2006
As the search for four missing Henderson men continued Wednesday, crews spent a good portion of the late afternoon and early evening focused on one area of the Ohio River just north of Peavey Grain, where sonar equipment showed what seemed to be something beneath the water's surface.
But while sunshine and a slight breeze greeted the search crews above water, the currents in the river were a different matter, said Henderson Police Maj. Frank Williams.
"The current is so strong that the divers physically can't get to the bottom (of the river)," he said after sunset Wednesday when the search was called off for the evening. "The current keeps pushing them down river."
Still, it was a positive sign that crews were putting divers in the river, as "the divers will not go in the water unless there is a good chance there is something."
He added that the sonar equipment that is being used by Marrs Township out of Posey County, Ind., shows a certain shape, he said, though it is still unclear what specifically the sonar has the crews focused on.
Brothers Michael Sanners, 25, Travis Sanners, 23, and Stephen Parker, 21, were with friend Quillian Hughes, 21, when the Ford Explorer they were in went into the Ohio after the alleged driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Evansville resident Korena Alvira, missed a turn and drove into the waters.
She and another Evansville resident, Diamond Raimey, 32, both drowned, autopsy reports showed. Jamie Rakestrew, 26, Evansville, is the only known survivor of the group, which left Rookies Sports Bar on Second Street around 3 a.m. Sunday.
Friends and family members of the missing and deceased have been at the site most of the week, and a prayer vigil sponsored by the families of the missing is planned for Friday at 6 p.m. at the boat ramp. In case of rain, the vigil will be held at noon Saturday at the same location. For more information, contact Gary Robertson at (270) 830-0644.
I am not trying to make light of this tragedy at all, but it does sound odd that tll of the people in the back of the pickup drowned because the tailgate was stuck. Wouldn't you think something is missing here?
River search for missing men still turning up nothing
By VICTORIA MARTY Henderson Gleaner
April 6, 2006
As the search for four missing Henderson men continued Wednesday, crews spent a good portion of the late afternoon and early evening focused on one area of the Ohio River just north of Peavey Grain, where sonar equipment showed what seemed to be something beneath the water's surface.
But while sunshine and a slight breeze greeted the search crews above water, the currents in the river were a different matter, said Henderson Police Maj. Frank Williams.
"The current is so strong that the divers physically can't get to the bottom (of the river)," he said after sunset Wednesday when the search was called off for the evening. "The current keeps pushing them down river."
Still, it was a positive sign that crews were putting divers in the river, as "the divers will not go in the water unless there is a good chance there is something."
He added that the sonar equipment that is being used by Marrs Township out of Posey County, Ind., shows a certain shape, he said, though it is still unclear what specifically the sonar has the crews focused on.
Brothers Michael Sanners, 25, Travis Sanners, 23, and Stephen Parker, 21, were with friend Quillian Hughes, 21, when the Ford Explorer they were in went into the Ohio after the alleged driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Evansville resident Korena Alvira, missed a turn and drove into the waters.
She and another Evansville resident, Diamond Raimey, 32, both drowned, autopsy reports showed. Jamie Rakestrew, 26, Evansville, is the only known survivor of the group, which left Rookies Sports Bar on Second Street around 3 a.m. Sunday.
Friends and family members of the missing and deceased have been at the site most of the week, and a prayer vigil sponsored by the families of the missing is planned for Friday at 6 p.m. at the boat ramp. In case of rain, the vigil will be held at noon Saturday at the same location. For more information, contact Gary Robertson at (270) 830-0644.
I am not trying to make light of this tragedy at all, but it does sound odd that tll of the people in the back of the pickup drowned because the tailgate was stuck. Wouldn't you think something is missing here?
