Search for missing boater continues after Friday accident on Lake Wedowee

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The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is one of nearly a dozen agencies that have been involved in the search for a missing Oxford man who thrown from a boat Friday evening on Lake Wedowee. / Photo courtesy of Clay County News Facebook page.

The search for a missing boater on Lake Wedowee continued into its fourth day Monday as personnel scoured the lake following an accident that took place July 3.

According to a release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, a single-vessel crash that occurred at approximately 5:10 p.m. Friday, July 3, resulted in an injured boater along with a boater that remains missing as of Monday morning.

Jake L. Littleton, 20, of Heflin, was operating a jon boat when the vessel struck a submerged stump which threw both Littleton and Russell H. Clanton, 22, of Oxford, who was a passenger, into the water. Shortly after the crash occurred, Littleton was recovered from the water and transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga., for medical treatment.

Clanton was not recovered and is currently missing at this time. A search and recovery effort is currently underway to locate and find Clanton.

The crash occurred on Lake Wedowee (R.L. Harris Reservoir) near the Big River area in Randolph County.

According to Randolph County EMA director Donnie Knight, the search is focused on an area about three miles up river from the R.L. Harris Dam.

Multiple agencies have been a part of the efforts to find Clanton. Among them have been the Clay County Rescue, Randolph County Rescue, the Randolph County Dive Team, the Alexander City Rescue Squad Dive Team, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division.

Knight said search efforts over the weekend and into Monday also involved Pell City Rescue, Lincoln Fire Department, Lincoln Police Department, Leeds Fire Department as well as dive teams from Leeds and Lincoln.