FORT SMITH, Ark. — Deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff's Department are investigating a possible drowning below the spillway of the dam on Lake Fort Smith.
This is on the south side of the lake, near Mountainburg.
Sheriff Ron Brown said a 22-year-old man is missing right now. Witnesses say the person went underwater and never resurfaced.
Brown says three people went sliding down the spillway and the man went under and did not surface.
"We are watching a large pool of water to the end of the spillway for him," Brown said.
Over a dozen people are assisting in the search effort Friday (May 8) evening.
Crews are preparing to get into the water and Sheriff Deputies say they will be on the water within the hour.
Brown says due to a mechanical issue, they will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
The man's identity has not been released at this time.
UPDATE: After two days of search efforts, the body of the missing 22-year-old man has been found. He has been identified as Willard Brown from Mounainburg.
He was found and pulled out of the water at 11:00 a.m this morning (May 9).
The Mountainburg Dive Team started the search this morning at 9 a.m. Three search boats were launched into the water with drag hooks to find him.
According to Mountainburg police, the man drowned after being dragged under the water at the foot of the Lake Fort Smith dam.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise money for his funeral expenses. To donate, click here.