The family of two people killed in a Sunday boating accident on Rock River say the pair are cousins.
The victims are identified as 21 year old Alondra Acosta and 16 year old Alexander Ravelingeen, both of Kewanee. The sister of Ravelingeen confirmed to TV6 that Acosta and Ravelingeen are cousins.
Officials with the IDNR said there were two other occupants on the boat; a 27 year old man and a 15 year old boy, also both from Kewanee. As of Monday, IDNR did not have an update on their conditions.
According to family, all four people on board were related. Family members have set up a GoFundMe for Ravenlingeen and a GoFundMe has also been created for Acosta.
Rock Island Fire Department says just before 1:30 Sunday afternoon, they got a call about a boat in distress on Rock River. The Fire Department says the boat was launched in the area of the Backwater Gamblers site in Rock Island, but shortly after, its engine lost power. The boat continued to float until it reached the Steel Dam, but the current forced it over, causing the boat to eventually overturn.
By the time rescue crews arrived and reached the boat's passengers, according to the Rock Island Fire Department, two people were in the water and two others were with the boat. All four people were transported to the hospital, with officials later announcing the deaths of Ravelingeen and Acosta.
Fire officials confirmed all four were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.
(Photo courtesy of TV6)