Divers warn boaters to obey signs during search for missing man

Another night’s search came up empty for a man who went overboard at the Lake of the Ozarks Thursday.

It ended around 9:20 p.m. after a nearly 12-hour search day.

Sgt. Scott White, spokesman for MSHP Troop F, said after a preliminary investigation, troopers determined that one man fell off a boat between mile markers 6 and 7, around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

On Thursday, divers said it was unclear when and if they will return to search Friday. That will depend on department leaders.

One of the dive team members stressed for boaters to obey the “divers sign” during the search. Those signs instruct boaters to stay 50 yards away from the area.

The diver said “many” boaters weren’t obeying that sign Thursday, which caused the investigation to get stalled.

He said because of the movement in the water, the sonar technology had trouble detecting anything.

Sgt. Scott White told ABC 17 News the Highway Patrol can’t release a name until they confirm if the investigation involves drowning.

There were two confirmed drownings at the Lake of the Ozarks in May.