An Ardmore man, Ronald Scott Stoker, age 52, was found deceased after a drowning incident on the Lake Texoma area, specifically on the Washita River. Officials initiated a search after Stoker was reported missing over the weekend, which came to a conclusion when his body was discovered in the Washita River in Bryan County. Stoker's boat and dog were found earlier on Saturday night, leading to a concentrated search in that area, as reported by several outlets including KTEN.
Stoker fell from his boat while setting up jug lines and wasn't wearing a life jacket, as confirmed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The incident happened around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, during cloudy weather with the water temperature at 54 degrees. Tragically, two other boaters also died on Lake Texoma that weekend in separate incidents, adding to the recent boating tragedies, according to OKC Fox.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokesperson Scott Hampton identified the deployment of aircraft, emergency response teams, and marine enforcement in the search for Stoker as critical elements in the swift discovery of the missing man, according to a statement obtained by KTEN. Officials have advised boaters to always wear personal flotation devices for safety.
This tragedy has reminded the Oklahoma community about the dangers of boating without proper safety measures, like life jackets. The loss of Ronald Scott Stoker serves as a warning for everyone to be careful while enjoying water activities, as per KOCO.
