The United States Coast Guard is now leading the search for a missing boater after a crash Saturday night on the Tennessee River claimed one life in Colbert County.

Authorities have confirmed that a boating crash involving an aluminum fishing boat and a commercial tugboat at Pickwick Lake, along the Tennessee River around 9:16 p.m. that threw two people into the water and prompted a massive search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division and ALEA’s Aviation Unit are assisting in the search and recovery efforts, a s

Earlier Sunday, Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said one of two missing boaters was found dead around midnight after a search of the Tennessee River.

Sheriff Balentine says a witness saw the two boats hit and immediately called 911 then got to the boat before first responders did and found what was left of the vessel.

The Sheffield Fire and Rescue Dive Team, Colbert County Emergency Management Agency, Colbert County Sheriff’s Office, along with their Dive Team, Florence Police Department’s Dive Team, the Marine Police, and more agencies are out on the scene east of Riverfront Park in Sheffield.

Crews were out there until around 3:30 a.m. and then started search efforts again at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Currently this is an ongoing search and no further information has been released.