2 boaters found dead in Lake Erie; 2 more missing

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The bodies of two of four missing boaters were recovered in western Lake Erie on Thursday, a day after the group left for an afternoon of fishing.

Searchers found a partially submerged boat on a reef near the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant and then spotted the bodies of a teenage girl and a woman, authorities said.

Both of the victims were wearing life jackets. They had been on the boat with two men, who also were reported missing.

U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters along with other rescue crews began searching the lake about 2 a.m. Thursday after receiving a call about the group. The boaters were out on a fishing trip but were supposed to return early Wednesday evening.

The average water temperature within the search area was about 35 to 40 degrees, the Coast Guard said.

Authorities narrowed the search to an area about 30 miles east of Toledo after finding the 21-foot-long boat Thursday morning.

Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Levorchick said the boaters had contacted relatives on Wednesday afternoon.

"They did send pictures back to family members of themselves fishing," he said.

The boaters' truck and boat trailer was found at a marina where they headed out on the lake.