Boat Sinks in Potomac; 2 Found Dead, 1 Rescued

Crews are still searching for one missing fisherman

Rescue crews are searching for a missing fisherman after two others were found dead and a fourth was rescued when their boat sank in the Potomac River Saturday evening.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources crews received a mayday call around 5 p.m. south of Breton Bay after a boat with four fishermen completely sank. Rescuers found 39-year-old Jason Downing, of Mechanicsville, who was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.

Around 9:30 a.m. Sunday, DNR said they recovered the bodies of two of the fishermen, 48-year-old William Edelen Jr., of White Plains, and 55-year-old Gregory Moore, of Mechanicsville. Moore owned the boat, police said.

Crews are searching for 52-year-old Roger Grissom, of Hughesville.

They said all of the fishermen were wearing lifejackets, but high winds with 46 miles per hour gusts created violent, 3 foot waves on the water, hampering rescue efforts. They said they were searching in a wide part of the river.

Rescue crews are attempting to track one of the missing fishermen using a ping from one of their cellphones.

The men were participating in a fishing competition.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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