UPDATE Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. — Russell County Coroner Mark Coots told WJRS NEWS the body recovered from Lake Cumberland Tuesday afternoon has been identified as Edward L. Plaster, 59, of Lexington. According to Russell County Search & Rescue, during the continuing search efforts Tuesday aftenoon, a target identified through sonar imaging was located and confirmed utilizing an ROV. The body was located approximately 117′ deep. Coroner Coots said an autopsy will be performed at the state medical examiner’s office to determine an exact cause of death.
UPDATE Tuesday 2:30 p.m. –The body of a Lexington man who had been missing since a boating collision Saturday morning on Lake Cumberland has been recovered.
UPDATE Monday 8:08 p.m. — search and recovery operations have been suspended for the night. Crews have been working since just after 8:00 a.m. Operations will resume Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m.
Search and recovery operations for a Lexington man missing following a two-boat collision Saturday morning on Lake Cumberland are scheduled to resume this morning.
Russell County Search and Rescue Chief Chris Money told WJRS NEWS Sunday night that crews suspended their efforts around 7:40 p.m., after nearly twelve straight hours of searching Sunday.
Additional personnel and specialized equipment are expected to arrive today from Christian Ministries, a group that assists with search and recovery operations across Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky and has helped with numerous successful recoveries.
The collision happened around 11:15 Saturday morning near the mouth of Lily Creek. The missing man was in a bass boat with another man from the Lexington area who was not injured.
A man and woman from Lancaster were in the other boat. The woman suffered serious injuries and was airlifted from the Russell County EMS base to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Her husband was not seriously injured.
Chief Money says the depth of the water presents significant challenges for recovery crews.
Campbellsville Fire and Rescue and Barren County Search and Rescue are also assisting Russell County crews.
Money says the priority is placing personnel and equipment where they have the best chance of locating the missing man and bringing closure to his family. He says which agency ultimately makes the recovery is far less important than accomplishing that mission.
Boating officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources are investigating the collision. Authorities have not released the names of those involved.
WJRS NEWS will continue following this tragic story and provide updates as developments occur.