The 7-year-old boy who drowned after a boat capsized on the Chicago River near Chinatown, Illinois, has been identified. The Chicago Police Department said in an accident report update released on Thursday, July 23rd, that Victor Lobato of the Little Village neighborhood died on Wednesday night, July 22nd.  

According to the CPD, the boat capsized at about 6:40 p.m. in the 1500-block of South Lumber Street and drifted three blocks down to 18th Street before first responders found and rescued the occupants. The investigators said that they found Lobato underneath the vessel.

The police noted that cargo boats pass through the river daily, creating small waves as they go by. They believe that one of such waves might have caused the vessel Lobato was in to overturn. Chief Patrick Maloney of the Chicago Fire Department said that they retrieved the child’s body with the help of helicopter divers.

The CFD said that nine people were on the boat, and the victim was one of four children. All the vessel occupants were not wearing life jackets until they were safely on the coast guard boat. Deputy District Chief Carmelita Wiley-Earls said the area the boat capsized was challenging to navigate, and he pointed out that things could have been worse if not for the timely 911 call.

Five of the nine people are receiving treatment at a local hospital, and the police have not tracked down the owner of the boat. The vessel, whose registration expired six years ago, is still on the water, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is investigating the cause of the incident.

Fire officials warned boaters to be mindful of overloading as it increases the danger of a boat overturning. They added that the occurrence is the fourth or fifth incident involving water rescues this week and advised the public, especially children, to wear a life jacket and practice safe boating.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

Please follow and like us: