(UPDATE, 12:55 p.m.) One person is dead and five other people hospitalized after three boats capsized around the Gates of the Mountains.
The boats were believed to have been traveling close together when they capsized, according to Cpl. Greg Holmlund with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue.
The body of one male victim was recovered while five other people were rescued and taken to St. Peter’s Health where they are in stable condition.
Information about when and where the boats capsized or how long the victims were in the water is not available at this time. The names of those involved have not yet been released.
Responding agencies included LCSO, Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue, the Montana Highway Patrol, West Valley Fire, St. Peter’s Health, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and a Gates of the Mountains tour boat.
Holmlund told MTN News wind and snow made rescue conditions difficult.
(1st Report, 11:04 a.m.) Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says emergency crews are responding to a report of a capsized boat around the Gates of the Mountains.
Rescue operations began Sunday morning. Dutton said there were reportedly six people in the boat.
The sheriff’s Water Emergency Team, Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue, and fire and medical crews are all responding to the scene.
Authorities are staging at the Gates of the Mountains marina.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
