On August 9, 2026, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the New York State Police responded to Kyser Lake in the town of Manheim for a reported boating incident involving two fatalities.
The investigation determined that two pontoon boats were traveling together in the East Canada Creek channel off Kyser Lake. The boats were floating next to each other and were lightly tied together.
Larry B. Barton, 78, of Dolgeville, NY, was aboard a blue pontoon boat when he entered the water without a life jacket and began experiencing a medical emergency. The operator of the boat, Frank H. Decker, 52, of Little Falls, NY, entered the water to assist Barton, leaving the boat unoccupied.
Lynn Richards, 65, of Little Falls, NY, was operating a separate red, white, and blue pontoon boat that was connected to the blue pontoon boat.
While attempting to gain control of Decker’s boat, Richards inadvertently placed the drive lever in forward gear instead of reverse. The boat to struck a rock cliff, causing Richard’s to enter the water. The unoccupied boat continued traveling forward and subsequently struck Richards, causing fatal injuries.
Barton and Richards were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The deceased were transported by the Herkimer County Coroner to Little Falls Hospital, where autopsies are scheduled for today.
The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the cause of Barton’s medical emergency, remain under investigation.
There is no indication of foul play at this time.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Original Press Release August 9, 2026:
On August 9, 2026, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the New York State Police responded to Kyser Lake in the town of Manheim, Herkimer County, for a reported boating incident involving two fatalities.
The preliminary investigation determined that two boats were docked next to one another when a 78-year-old male entered the water and began experiencing a medical emergency.
The operator of the boat entered the water to assist him, leaving the boat unoccupied. The boat subsequently began to drift away.
A 65-year-old male entered the unoccupied boat and attempted to maneuver it toward the two individuals in the water. The boat was inadvertently operated forward, striking a rock ledge and ejected the 65-year-old male from the vessel. The unoccupied vessel’s propeller subsequently stuck the 65-year-old male.
Both males sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other injuries reported, and all other individuals involved were accounted for.
The investigation remains ongoing.