Boat accident victim was father, Sunday school teacher

The body of Owens, 43, was pulled from that river on Friday, July 17, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s office.

Owens was pulled from the river at 9:40 a.m. Friday, said West Carrollton Fire Chief Jack Keister.

Keister said boats from West Carrollton and Moraine fire departments had been conducting a dragging operation since 7 a.m. Friday after suspending search efforts Thursday night.

“We don’t know what the cause of death might have. We will leave that to the coroner,” Keister said. “We do know he was on the river in his boat alone, travelling at a high rate of speed.”

An autopsy was performed Friday afternoon, but results were not available.

Owens worked as a diesel mechanic for Greenline Products.

“He was a great guy, and he was an awesome mechanic,” said John Randle, owner of Greenline Products. “He was pretty much loved and appreciated by everybody.”

In addition to his wife of 22 years, he leaves three daughters: Rebecca, 13, Melinda, 8, and Haley, 6.

Owens enjoyed fishing “whenever he could” and knew the river well, according to Shelly Owens.

She said Owens did not hit a sandbar, as some media reported.

“When they brought the boat out last night one of the hydraulic lines for the steering was busted,” she said. “So they think maybe that just broke and caused him to lose control.”

After the body was pulled from the river, a family member collapsed on the river bank and was transported from the scene by ambulance.

The fire chief said an existing medical condition might have led the man to pass out.

Rescue units from West Carrollton, Moraine, Five Rivers MetroParks and Ohio Department of Natural Resources were called to 5441 Marina Drive, near the Hammond VFW Post 3438, about 8:15 p.m. Thursday.

As many as four boats were launched in the search, and about 30 people were involved in the operation, said Keister.

Fire crews Thursday evening searched the river, attempting to rescue the man, until darkness made it dangerous for the crews to be out. The search was called off until Friday morning when it became a recovery operation, Keister said.

Owens was not wearing a life vest, according to Keister. “Wearing a flotation device when you are in a boat alone is a critical safety step,” he said.

Keister also said that close to 100 friends and relatives, including some relatives from Tennessee, came to support his household.

Investigation of exactly what happened on the river will be conducted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Keister estimated the average depth of the water in the area of the incident at 5 to 8 feet in some places, 12 to 15 feet in other places. The current was slow and at a manageable level, he said.

Staff writers Steve Bennish and Angela Watson Gay contributed to this article.