3 dead, 2 taken to hospital after boat capsizes on Lake Powell near Utah-Arizona border

PAGE, Ariz. ( ABC4 ) — At least three people have been confirmed deceased after a small pontoon boat capsized on Lake Powell near the Utah-Arizona border on Friday, according to officials.

Two of the deceased individuals were four-year-old boys, and no other information was released about them. The third death was confirmed to be Melissa Bean, 72, according to a joint press release from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area .

Officials were first informed about the overturned 25-foot pontoon boat just after 3:15 p.m. on Friday, according to the release. The privately owned vessel was being towed by another boater when it capsized near the mouth of Navajo Canyon, which is in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Officials said that “waves contributed to the towed vessel capsizing,” causing several of the boat’s 11 passengers to become trapped underneath it.

When Rangers with Glen Canyon responded, they saw one person on top of the overturned boat, while others from the boat were seen in the water, and more members of the party were unaccounted for.

Other boaters in the area helped retrieve victims from the water, and officials provided emergency assistance at the scene. Two people were taken to the hospital for their injuries after the incident.

The press release did not provide further details about the other injuries after the pontoon capsized. Officials did not release the conditions of the individuals who were taken to the hospital.

“The National Park Service and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office express their condolences to the families,” the press release said.

The situation is being investigated by the National Park Service, as well as the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

There is no further information at this time.

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