A swiftly moving and destructive storm swept through southern Wisconsin on Friday, claiming three lives after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake amid the bustling Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The devastating incident occurred as a fierce storm system roared across Walworth County, beginning around 12:10 p.m.
In the ensuing turmoil, local dispatchers were inundated with emergency 911 calls reporting a capsized boat at Geneva Lake, with several individuals struggling in the water.
Authorities responded to the scene on a rescue boat following the tragic boat accident in Wisconsin. (WFLD)
A police vessel from the City of Lake Geneva, along with the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, managed to rescue seven people from the water. Unfortunately, three individuals could not be saved, Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner stated during a news conference.
Emergency crews later recovered their bodies.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three victims who died, though sources told CBS News Chicago they were all children.
Three people were killed after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin during severe weather. (WFLD)
The capsizing is under joint investigation by the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Hausner said that while the county’s permanent population sits around 106,000, it surges to more than 200,000 visitors on holiday weekends like the Fourth of July.
“Our resources, not just the sheriff’s office, but all law enforcement resources and fire and EMS are stressed, and this compounded that to levels unprecedented,” Hausner said.
Lake Geneva, Wis. (Paola Giannoni/Getty)
The sheriff’s office initiated an emergency call-in of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties and the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.
City of Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause issued an emergency declaration at 12:18 p.m. after the high winds and heavy rains knocked down power lines, shattered trees, damaged buildings and left cars crushed.
Numerous storm-related injuries have been reported, forcing area hospitals to enact diversions due to the overwhelming volume of patients.
The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, City of Lake Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and Walworth County did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from News Media.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources referred all inquiries to the City of Lake Geneva Police Department.