A second person involved in a Sunday afternoon Rock River boating accident in Milan has died.
On Monday, Rachel Torbert, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, confirmed that 16 year old Alexander Ravelingeen, of Kewanee, died.
Torbert and Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson say 21 year old Alondra Acosta, also of Kewanee, also died in the accident. Torbert said she did not have a condition update for two other people, a 27 year old and a 15 year old, who were also in the boat.
The Rock Island Fire Department said the call came in to their dispatch at 1:24 p.m. Sunday. According to the fire department, the caller told dispatchers four people were in a boat up against the steel dam. The caller said the boat launched in the area of the Backwater Gamblers site in Rock Island and soon after, the boat's engine lost power and it began floating down the river until it reached the dam, the fire department said.
The four people in the boat were rescued after a boat floated over the Steel Dam in Milan. The fire department said it was dispatched to the area of 5098 11th St., which is a bridge, but before crews could get to the boat, it floated over the dam and two of its occupants fell in the river.
The fire department launched their rescue boat, and said they were able to remove two people who were still with the boat after it floated over the dam. All four on board, according to authorities, were wearing life jackets.
Multiple area agencies responded, including Blackhawk Fire, Rock Island City Police Department and Rock Island City Fire Department, Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department, Rock Island Arsenal Fire Department and Med-Force. A boat with the Backwater Gamblers also offered assistance at the scene.