NEW RICHMOND, Ohio — Clermont County fire, EMS and sheriff’s units responded to the Augusta boat ramp along the Ohio River shortly after 2:35 p.m. Thursday after a caller reported a capsized boat in the water, according to initial emergency radio traffic.
Crews were dispatched to check the welfare of anyone who may have been aboard after the caller described a 16-foot white boat flipped upside down near the ramp. Units on the radio said it was unclear whether anyone was in the water, and no one was seen at the scene when the call went out.
Dispatchers requested mutual aid from Hamilton County and notified Ohio River Command as additional fire and boat units were sent to the area, according to radio traffic. A firefighter on scene reported “a lot of debris” in the area of the reported rollover and said crews had no visual confirmation of an overturned boat as they began searching, though a short time later a unit on the water radioed that the boat was found completely flipped over with no one on or near it and “no signs of distress.”
Because of river conditions, commanders decided not to launch rescue boats, according to radio traffic. Additional responding units, including a mutual aid boat crew, were told to disregard and were called back available, and Ohio River Command discontinued the response.
The information contained in this story was obtained from initial emergency radio traffic monitored by the Clermont Guardian and has not been confirmed by officials. Details may change.