Wabasha Residents Identified as Victims of Fatal Lake Pepin Boating Accident

Pepin, WI (KROC-AM News)- Authorities have identified the three southeast Minnesotans who lost their lives in last weekend’s boating accident on Lake Pepin. 

Read More: Bodies of Three Victims Recovered After Lake Pepin Boating Tragedy 

A joint news release issued by the Wabasha County and Pepin County Sheriff’s Offices on Tuesday says first responders were called to the report of people screaming for help in the water around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. 

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Emergency responders later found three people clinging to an overturned 27-foot pontoon just offshore from the YMCA Camp on Deer Island in Pepin County, Wisconsin. 

Multiple reports indicate the pontoon collided with a barge. 

The survivors reported that three others were missing. Law enforcement launched a large-scale search that ended with the recovery of the bodies of the three missing boaters on Sunday. 

Wabasha Residents Identified as Victims of Fatal Lake Pepin Boating Crash

Officials have identified the deceased boaters as 37-year-old Ashley Monson, 52-year-old Manuel De Angel-Sola and 46-year-old Nicholas Loechler.

All of the victims are from Wabasha. 

Victims Associated with Wabasha Fire Department

A Facebook post published on Monday by Wabasha Ambulance indicates two of the victims were firefighters with the Wabasha Fire Department and the other was part of the Wabasha Fire Department family. 

“We lost three people this weekend. Two of our own, and one more who never had to wear the uniform to be part of this family,” the Facebook post says. 

Crash Investigation Update

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is the leading investigative agency for the boat crash. 

The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office and Pepin County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with the investigation, which remains ongoing. 

See Also: Victim of Fatal Rochester E-Bike Crash Identified 

“The Pepin County Sheriff's Office and Wabasha County Sheriff's Office extend their sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” the news release says.