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Capsize on Geneva Lake
Three children died after a recreational boat carrying 10 people capsized and sank on Geneva Lake during severe Wisconsin storms on Friday, July 3, authorities said.
“Three children died after a recreational boat carrying 10 people capsized and sank on Geneva Lake”
The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said the privately owned motorboat was carrying six adults and four children when rapidly deteriorating weather conditions struck the popular lake shortly after noon.
Investigators said the vessel was attempting to reach safety as severe wind and waves intensified, but the boat was overwhelmed by the conditions, took on water, capsized and sank.
Emergency responders rescued six adults and one child from the water, and rescue crews later recovered the three children from the lake and transported them to local hospitals where all three were pronounced dead.
The incident unfolded as severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage throughout Walworth County, including downed trees, damaged buildings, blocked roads and power outages.
Warnings, rescues, and life jackets
Local officials said the storm created "rapidly producing hazardous boating conditions" on Geneva Lake, and a privately-owned recreational boat holding 10 passengers capsized just after noon on July 3.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 11:15 am. July 3 and then issued a severe storm warning for Walworth County at 11:53 a.m., warning of winds up to 75 mph and potential hail.
All four children aboard were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, officials said, and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are conducting a joint investigation.
A Facebook post from the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said the boat attempted to return to shore as the weather worsened but was overwhelmed, and that the boat took on water, capsized and sank.
Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner said emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls reporting fallen trees, downed power lines, damaged buildings and people trapped inside homes and businesses, and that response efforts were slowed as debris blocked roads and live wires created hazardous conditions.
State of emergency and investigation
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency following the storm, and the City of Lake Geneva declared a state of emergency following the storm.
“"Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away"”
Authorities said the incident is under investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with circumstances remaining under review and no further details released.
Hausner said deputies responded immediately but were delayed by downed power lines and trees blocking streets, and he urged people to stay away because "Power lines are all over the place."
The storm also prompted other disruptions in the region, with the storms that rolled through the Midwest on Friday afternoon and evening prompting multiple cities to cancel holiday festivals and reschedule fireworks displays.
As families across the region began Fourth of July holiday celebrations, the boating tragedy turned what should have been a festive weekend on the lake into a tragedy for the victims’ families and the Lake Geneva community.
