Boy drowned in Lake Overholser celebrating his birthday with friends, family says
Family members have identified Elijah Farrar, who turned 11 on July 10, as one of two boys who drowned at Lake Overholser Dam this week. The other boy was reported to be 10 years old.
Authorities told KOKH-TV that Elijah was celebrating his birthday and wanted to fish in the area with friends. He is described as loving the outdoors and being a joy to be around.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for Elijah’s funeral expenses.
Authorities said the boys were fishing near Lake Overholser's dam when they decided to enter the water. Elijah and the other boy drowned when strong currents pulled them underwater Monday. Two other boys were rescued.
Firefighters responded near the backside of the dam. They deployed four boats and rescued two boys who were trapped on a concrete ledge that connected to the backside of the dam.
More: What we know about 2 boys' deaths at Lake Overholser Dam, and how the dam operates
The Oklahoma City Utilities Department, which manages the river dam at Lake Overholser, said staff opened three of the six gates on the river dam on Sunday afternoon to accommodate increased river flow. Records indicate the warning lights were on and the alarm sounded during each gate opening.
The gates remained open on Monday until the Utilities Department was alerted by Oklahoma City police and fire officials to close them. Prior to Sunday, the last time the river dam gates were opened was on June 10, 2022.
The gates are adjusted depending on the flow of water coming from the North Canadian River and the amount of water needed to divert to Lake Hefner for treatment.
River flows have been higher due to large rain events in recent days.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Family identifies boy killed in Lake Overholser drowning, GoFundMe started
