Man overboard at reservoir

Victim identified as Hillsboro man

More than 20 law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel, and volunteer firefighters were looking for a man Thursday evening who had fallen off a sailboat that afternoon at Marion Reservoir.

When the search was called because of darkness, the boater had not been found.

The missing boater has been identified as Timothy Kliewer, 71, of Hillsboro. His pickup and trailer were located at Hillsboro Cove.

A call came in to Marion County sheriff’s dispatch at 5:43 p.m. that a boat was on its side between the dam and Cottonwood Point. The reporting party did not see anyone around the boat or in the water near the boat.

When authorities reached the capsized boat against the northeast shoreline, officials found a life jacket, wet suit, and cell phone but no sign of a passenger. According to Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft, the boat was 14-to 16-feet long with two hulls and one sail.

Personnel walked the lake shoreline and searched with boats and in the air for the victim. Kansas Highway Patrol provided an airplane and a helicopter to aid in the search.

At 9:35 p.m., the search was called off for the day.

This is the second time in two weeks emergency workers have been called to the lake for a boating accident. A 70-year-old minister from Hutchinson drowned April 29, when his fishing boat capsized in high winds. Officials speculated Thursday that strong winds might have caused this most recent incident as well.

Searchers returned to the reservoir Friday but effort were hampered by boat because of wind.