An Ironton man remains missing after a weekend boating accident on a Kentucky lake.

Wednesday, April 19, 2000

An Ironton man remains missing after a weekend boating accident on a Kentucky lake.

Burt N. Stafford, 49, of Ironton, a passenger in a boat owned by Robert Elliot, 29, of Flatwoods, Ky., apparently fell into Yatesville Lake in Lawrence County, Ky., about 6:45 a.m. Saturday morning, said Kentucky State Police public affairs officer Gary Kistner of the Ashland, Ky., post.

State troopers, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Louisa Fire and Rescue and other emergency crews responded to the lake about 6:50 a.m. Saturday, finding Eliot lying next to the bank, Kistner said.

Eliot sustained multiple injuries when he was struck by his boat, and was airlifted to Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va.

Eliot was admitted for multiple injuries. He was listed in serious condition Tuesday.

Stafford, who had also fallen from the boat, could not be located, Kistner said.

Rescue teams have continued to search the lake area, working daylight to dark in attempt to locate Stafford, but he is still missing, Kistner said.

Neither boater used a life jacket, he said. While the search is ongoing, emergency officials request boaters limit their use of Yatesville Lake.

The boaters were making a sharp right turn when the boat hit a wake and tossed them into the water, said Eddie Preston, chief of the Louisa Volunteer Fire Department.

Witnesses said the boat continued running in circles, hitting them.