GAINESVILLE, Ala. — A second boating tragedy has struck the Tombigbee River, leaving another family awaiting answers as search crews continue efforts to locate a missing boater in Sumter County.
Authorities said 48-year-old Damond E. Driggers of Millry disappeared after falling overboard from his boat shortly after midnight Sunday near Gainesville.
According to officials, Driggers was operating a 17-foot Aluminum Excel duck boat on the Tombigbee River at approximately 12 a.m. when he went overboard and entered the water. Witnesses reported that he never resurfaced.
Law enforcement officials said Driggers was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident and was also not using the vessel’s emergency engine cutoff switch, commonly known as a kill switch.
Search and rescue teams spent much of Sunday searching the river but were unable to locate Driggers. The search was suspended Sunday evening and is expected to resume Monday morning.
The incident marks the second recent case of a boater going missing on the Tombigbee River, adding to growing concerns about water safety as authorities continue their efforts to recover Driggers.
Officials have not released additional details as the investigation remains ongoing.
Damond Driggers Missing After Falling From Boat on Tombigbee River in Alabama
