Three men who died in a boating accident yesterday while fishing below the Lock and Dam at Bellevue have been identified.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resource says all three men are from Eastern Iowa: 30-year old Mitchell Thomson of Stanwood, 40-year old Nicholas Thomson of Tipton, and 61-year old Kirk Stout Sr. of Marion.
The DNR says the men were fishing in a restricted area directly beneath the dam when their boat overturned. According to preliminary reports, the boat was pulled into the hazardous waters below the dam due to a strong current created by the dam’s operation.
The men were pulled from the water and taken to shore. Emergency responders arrived and administered lifesaving measures, but two were confirmed dead at the scene. One victim was taken by ambulance to MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque and was later pronounced dead.
The incident remains under investigation.
