Four people drowned in Beauregard Parish over the weekend. Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford said they received a call Friday evening that four people were in distress and unaccounted for in the Sabine River. He said a group was swimming and the recent rains brought on a strong current.
“One of the younger people involved in the incident got in distress and then three adult males jumped in and tried to save the boy, and as a result, all four lost their lives,” said Herford.
According to a GoFundMe account, the four-year-old victim has been identified as Bentley Lane Fountain. Herford said the three adults who lost their lives are Troy M. McCollough of the Junction community, Kelly Bailey of Hornbeck, and Austin Scott of DeRidder.
“These three men tragically lost their lives trying to rescue that young boy. They’re heroes and I think they should be remembered that way,” said Herford.
And with four fatalities, Herford said it’s the worst case of multiple drownings he’s worked in his more than three-decade career in Beauregard Parish.
“We’ve worked as many as three before at the same time, but this is the first time in my thirty-plus years at the sheriff’s office that I can recall we’ve ever worked four at one time,” said Herford.
All four victims have been recovered and the identity of the young boy has not been released.
Comments