Tragic Capsize on Lake Powell Claims Lives of 4-Year-Old Boys and 72-Year-Old Woman

The boat capsized near the mouth of Navajo Canyon in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on Friday.

COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. — Two 4-year-old boys and a 72-year-old woman have died after a pontoon boat capsized on Lake Powell on Friday, according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Officials said the National Park Service Glen Canyon Regional Communications Center was called at 3:18 p.m. due to a boat overturning on Lake Powell near the mouth of Navajo Canyon in Coconino County.

A 25-foot pontoon boat was being towed by another boat when large waves on the lake caused it to capsize, trapping several of the 11 people on board.

Glen Canyon Rangers responded and found the boat with one person on top and several others in the water. At that time, “some” of the boaters were unaccounted for, officials said, but they did not specify how many people were missing.

Nearby boaters were able to help get some of the victims out of the water.

Two people ended up being airlifted and then taken by ambulance to the hospital.

As of Saturday, three people have died. Two 4-year-old boys and 72-year-old Melissa Bean.

This incident is being investigated by the National Park Service, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

No other details were released.

This is a developing story and more details will be added as they are made available.