None of the passengers were wearing a life vest, according to law enforcement personnel.
Three passengers reached a small island and were rescued by boat. Another passenger, a woman, reached shore under the bluffs on the east side of the river. …
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A Basin man is missing following a boating accident in the Big Horn River near Greybull early Sunday morning.According to reports in the Greybull Standard and Basin Republican-Rustler, Bobby Brinkerhoff, 39, of Basin, was one of six passengers in a boat that capsized after hitting a submerged tree or other debris as it passed Greybull.
None of the passengers were wearing a life vest, according to law enforcement personnel.
Three passengers reached a small island and were rescued by boat. Another passenger, a woman, reached shore under the bluffs on the east side of the river. South Big Horn County Search and Rescue personnel performed a rope rescue, moving her to the main channel of the river where she was also rescued by boat.
The fifth passenger reached shore further down river and was taken home by a passing motorist, unaware that rescue efforts were underway.
Two of the victims, Amanda Gill, 19, of Cody, and Nancy Lassiter, 23, of Basin, required no medical attention. Curtis Reid, 23, of Greybull, Babbett Nicholson, 22, and Derick Nicholson, both of Basin, were treated for minor injuries and released from Midway Clinic between Basin and Greybull.
Brinkerhoff was seen in the river approximately 20 minutes after the accident by a Big Horn County deputy and a Greybull police officer, who entered the water in an attempt to rescue him but failed. At that time, he was apparently floating face down in the river.
Efforts to locate Brinkerhoff continued through Sunday night, and included a rescue station near the Georgia Pacific plant near Lovell. A cushion from the boat reached that area early Monday morning.
The Big Horn was flowing at 5,000 cubic per second Sunday, and the current was estimated at 10 mph. Since then the river has risen, and is not expected to crest for two weeks.
Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the accident. A cooler containing alcoholic beverages was recovered.
Wyoming Game and Fish Warden Bill Robertson of Greybull is investigating the accident.