Boat Capsizes On Lake Pueblo, Leaving 2 Dead, 11 Hospitalized

PUEBLO, CO — Two people are dead and 11 were hospitalized after a boat capsized on Lake Pueblo.

Witnesses saw the boat with 13 people on board capsize due to high winds around 7:30 p.m. Sunday near the north picnic area, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release.

Park rangers rushed by boat to the scene and rescued eight kids and three adults.

After an all-night search, the park's water recovery team found a woman's body early Tuesday along the north shore of the lake, authorities said. She appeared to have drowned.

"Our MERT team worked all night and around 5:45 a.m we located a victim in 107 feet of water," said Joe Stadterman, park manager at Lake Pueblo and recovery team member.

Her body was taken to the Pueblo County Coroner’s office where she'll be identified and officials will determine an exact cause of death.

The woman was identified by the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office as Jessica Prindle, 38, according to The Colorado Sun.

Lake Pueblo is about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs.

Stadterman offered condolences to the woman's family and friends.

“This is a tragic loss of life,” Stadterman said. “And it underscores the importance of being extremely careful around the water. If you are on or even near the water, we strongly urge you to wear a life jacket.”

A search was ongoing for a second missing adult. Multiple media outlets reported a second person also died in the capsizing. A man's body was found in more than 100 feet of water.

Eight people have drowned in Colorado this year, four since Wednesday, parks officials said. Colorado saw its worst year ever for drownings in 2020 when 34 people drowned. Another 22 people drowned last year.