13-year-old dies at Lake Freeman

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A 13-year-old from Lafayette is dead, after apparently being electrocuted while swimming at Lake Freeman.

According to the Carroll County Sheriff's department, Zachary Crays was found unconscious while swimming with friends near one of the boat docks at the Angel Shores Resort located at 11730 West 850 North near Monticello Sunday morning. He was transported to the White County Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11:00 a.m.

According to a news release from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement, witnesses said that four children were swimming in Lake Freeman when, for an unknown reason, they started to tingle.

Three of the children were able to get out of the water, but when Crays swam to the dock to attempt to exit the water, he fell back in and was found face down by the boat lift, according to the press release.

The DNR press release said that an off-duty Illinois firefighter heard screams and attempted to assist.

According to the sheriff's department, the Carroll County REMC located a water soaked electrical junction box, which may have electrified the metal on the dock structure and electrocuted Crays.

White County coroner Matt Westerhouse will be performing the autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Share