IDNR Conservation Police investigating fatal kayak incident on Vermilion River

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Posted 6/2/21

OGLESBY – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police are investigating the circumstances of a fatal incident involving a kayak operator that occurred on the Vermilion River in Oglesby on Tuesday, June 1.

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IDNR Conservation Police investigating fatal kayak incident on Vermilion River

Posted

OGLESBY – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police are investigating the circumstances of a fatal incident involving a kayak operator that occurred on the Vermilion River in Oglesby on Tuesday, June 1.

LaSalle County Coroner Richard Ploch identified the victim as Richard W. Frey, 61, of Mendota.

Conservation Police received a call at approximately 11:45 a.m. regarding a missing kayaker on the Vermilion River. A fisherman in the area located an unoccupied kayak near the Oglesby canoe launch.

Conservation Police officers (CPOs) searched upstream of the canoe launch and at approximately 12:53 p.m. located the body of the presumed victim in the river about 400 yards downstream of the low head dam in Oglesby. The body was recovered by CPOs and personnel from the IDNR Fire team, Oglesby, Streator, Utica and Ottawa fire departments, and Oglesby Police Department.

An autopsy will be conducted as part of the investigation with further information to be released when it becomes available.