Manawa, Wi (WSAU)Authorities continue to investigate at least four drowning incidents in Wisconsin during the July Fourth weekend. In Waupaca County, a man drowned Sunday while trying to retrieve a boat in the Manawa (man’-uh-wuh) Mill Pond. Authorities said the boat got untied from a rope he was holding. And he was swimming to catch up with the craft when he got caught in a current and was pushed underwater. In Green Lake County, officials said a 25-year-old man was boating on Lake Puckaway when he jumped in for a swim – and he could not return to the boat after it drifted away. The other two incidents were in Polk County in northwest Wisconsin. A 22-year-old Saint Paul man drowned Sunday when a boat in which he was riding capsized on Antler Lake. And Polk County officials said 53-year-old Ronald Carlson of Centuria died Friday after he dived head-first into shallow water off a dock on North Twin Lake. Names of the other three victims were not immediately released.
Four people were injured in Winnebago County after two boats collided on the Wolf River near Fremont on Sunday night. A campground owner said one of the boats traveled at a high speed, did a U-turn, and drove toward the other boat – and one landed on top of the other. The people in both boats apparently knew each other. One was hospitalized in critical condition at last word. The other three were stable. Authorities said alcohol was apparently involved. The crash is still being investigated.