Search resumes for 18-year-old Carmi woman at Rend Lake

The search resumed this morning for an 18-year-old Carmi woman who drowned near the boat harbor at Wayne Fitzgerell State Park at 11:15 a.m. Monday. The woman's name has not been released. She was swimming off a boat when the accident happened.

The boat harbor is north of Rt. 154. The waters are rougher there than on the south part of the lake.

No foul play, no alcohol or drugs were involved. Franklin County authorities and Rend Lake personnel searched the entire day as the rescue efforts turned into a recovery effort.

Franklin County authorities continued their search into the night hoping that the glare would not be as bad on sonar equipment being used over a 300-yard area where the search was being conducted.

Police were assisted by search and rescue teams from Benton and Sesser as well as police from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Boats carrying searchers continued their work on the lake during the early morning hours today.