Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry holding a media conference this afternoon regarding the drowning deaths of two 18-year olds in Barber Creek. Berry says with water levels dropping, they’ve used cameras to determine that young men are not under the dam and the search is moving further out.
“This river isn’t a gentle, easy flowing river,” according to Berry. “It’s filled with snags; it’s filled with lots of places a body could be. We have not set a timeline, we’re going to continue searching until hopefully we can find both these boys and get them to their families.”
"We're going to continue searching until hopefully we can find both these boys and get them to their families."
EMA Director C. J. Worden joining Berry for the conference. He says Oconee County is receiving help from several agencies.
“When this operation began we recognized we were going to need assistance beyond our capabilities in Oconee County, through our partners with GEMA as well as some of our neighboring jurisdictions, we’ve requested resources from all over the state of Georgia.”
Worden says nearly 200 people are involved in the search. They include technical diving teams, swift water capability teams, search and rescue teams,and cadaver dogs, A Department of Natural Resources (DNR) helicopter has also been used. Clarke and Barrown counties are providing logistal support.
Sheriff Berry says the community has also helped by bringing food and drinks to those searchers, as well as offering services for the effort.
Witnesses report Robert Bryant Wade of Oconee County was walking on the dam when he fell into the water. Cameron Smith of Comer jumped in the water in an effort to save him.