PIERRE, S.D. – The Iowa DNR is expanding its search to neighboring states to locate a boat involved in a hit-and-run boating fatality on West Lake Okoboji.

Information on the incident is being provided to marinas, dealerships, repair shops, law enforcement officers and citizens in the neighboring states of South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri to try and locate the boat that left the fatal scene early on Friday, Aug. 12^th at West Lake Okoboji. The DNR is working primarily with conservation law enforcement agencies in the neighboring states to get word out on the boat that is being sought.

A reward of $25,000 is being offered by the Iowa Great Lakes Safety Council for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the operator of a boat involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in the early morning hours of Aug. 12^th on West Lake Okoboji.

Michael Joseph Brosnahan, 51, of Perry, was killed and his wife, Jill Denise Brosnahan, 50, was injured in the boating collision that took place at approximately 2 a.m. Friday. The boat they were in was struck from behind by another vessel that fled the scene.

Because boating incidents lack other types of physical evidence such as skid marks left behind in a traffic accident, eye witness accounts become that much more important in boat cases, said Gary Owen, a conservation officer for the Iowa DNR.

"We have to believe there’s someone out there that knows what happened and can provide us the information we need on this tragic case. It’s quite possible that the boat we’re looking for may have been moved to another state and hopefully, additional publicity will encourage someone to step forward if they have seen any boat matching the description of what we are looking for," Owen said.

The DNR and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department are looking for a predominately white boat with two red stripes approximately 6-8 inches wide and one foot apart. The boat is believed to be at least 22 feet long.

Owen said he continues to field and follow up on more than 30 tips each day, but none as panned out yet in the search for the missing boat. All of the calls thus far have come from within the state of Iowa.

The public is asked to be particularly observant of any boats meeting the description that may not have been returned to its normal parking place such as boat slip or driveway or has recently shown signs of damage on or near the keel. The damages may not be extensive based on the fact the boat was able to leave the scene.

The reward money being offered shows the resolve of the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council and citizens in the community to ensure that recreational safety in the region continues to be a top priority, according to Steve Dulin of the water safety council.

"We have many people here who take water safety quite seriously and we all want to see that the person or people involved in this tragic case are brought to justice," Dulin said.

Donations can be sent to:

THE IOWA GREAT LAKES WATER SAFTEY COUNCIL REWARD FUND.

C/O BANK MIDWEST

PO BOX 248

1525 18TH ST.

SPIRIT LAKE, IA. 51360

ATTN: MICKEY HARRINGTON

For any questions regarding the reward fund, contact Steve Dulin at 712-320-2220.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Gary Owen of the Iowa DNR at 712-260-1018 or the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department at 712-336-2525.For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.

-30-