Indiana Conservation Officers were able to locate four adults and six children (ages 10 months to 8 years) who went missing while boating on the Mississinewa River in Randolph County.
On Aug. 1, shortly after midnight, Indiana Conservation Officers responded when a group of boaters failed to arrive at their take out location. A family member told authorities that they had spoken to the group earlier and said that they were stuck on an obstruction and were running out of daylight. The group’s phone had also died, and they were not prepared to spend the night on the river.
Officers used a DNR Law Enforcement UAV with a thermal imaging camera to search the river in the low-light conditions and located the group. Officers reached the group on foot and assisted with getting them back to safety.
Indiana Conservation Officers remind the public of the importance of leaving a float plan detailing trip details with a friend or family member before embarking on any boating trip.