July 4th wasn't a great weekend for some families. A double drowning occurred at Appalachia Bay at Lake Keystone. The adult was identified as 39-year-old Nathaniel A. Richardson. The second victim was a 14 year old boy. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) says a family of five was on a floatation device, with no life jackets, when the 14-year-old, who reportedly could not swim, fell into the water. The man who is believed to be the boys father, jumped in after him but neither of the two came back up. The drownings took place approximately 100 yards from the shore line. Both victim' s bodies were recovered by the OHP dive team, in approximately 12 feet of water. The other three members of the family who were on the floatation device were taken to shore by some witnesses.
Another drowning occurred at Grand Lake. Levi Gibson, age 39, of Afton, drowned near the Patricia Island area of the lake on July 4. His body was recovered in 25 feet of water just before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5.
The report states that Gibson jumped into the water from a boat to assist a child who had fallen off a tube floating device. He never resurfaced.