(Clear Lake, IA) — A Meservey man died following a boating collision Thursday morning on Clear Lake.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 59-year-old Dennis Ritter was fishing with 68-year-old Billy Carlton of Dows in the Little Lake portion of Clear Lake when their 16-foot Alumacraft fishing boat was struck from behind by an Excel flat-bottom boat at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Authorities say Ritter and Carlton were trolling when the collision occurred. Both men were transported to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, where Ritter later died from his injuries.
Carlton was treated for injuries and released later Thursday.
The second boat was operated by 35-year-old Logen Conklin of Muscatine. Passengers aboard that vessel were not injured.
Investigators have ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor in the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Assisting at the scene were DNR conservation officers, the Ventura and Clear Lake fire departments, the Clear Lake Police Department and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.
