A late-day boat outing on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota turned deadly Tuesday, when a crash near Manbeck Island in Beatty Township hurled at least four people into the water. One person died at the scene and three others were rushed to hospitals, according to local authorities.
What Officials Say
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said first responders reached the area near the 3600 block of Black Bay Road shortly after 6:20 p.m. and found multiple people in the water. Two of the injured were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, while a third was airlifted to a medical center in Duluth. A fourth person received emergency care at the scene and was later pronounced dead. The victim's name is being withheld while family members are notified, and investigators say the crash remains under investigation, according to the Star Tribune.
Rescue Timeline
Authorities received the initial call around 6:22 p.m., and crews from several agencies converged on the crash site, local reporting from KDAL/97.9 WEVE said. The station reported that life-saving efforts were performed on scene and that the deceased's name is being withheld pending family notification.
Lake Hazards And Safety Operations
Lake Vermilion covers about 39,271 acres and is dotted with roughly 365 islands and 341 miles of shoreline, the Minnesota DNR notes. That sprawling landscape can complicate emergency responses on the water. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office operates a Boat & Water Safety division that handles buoy placement, water-enforcement patrols and rescue operations on Vermilion and other county lakes, according to the county website. Authorities say more information will be released as investigators continue to work the scene.
