FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2025

For More Information Contact:
Scott Williamson
Police Chief
Police Department
660.785.6945

KPD update on capsized boat incident at Hazel Creek Lake

(Kirksville, MO) - The Kirksville Police Department has additional information to release following the capsized boat incident at Hazel Creek Lake on Wednesday, December 10.

Two of the three hunters were rescued from the water that day and transported to Northeast Regional Medical Center. These two individuals are identified as Hunter Bender, 30, of Kirksville, and Brandon Bergman, 43, of Kirksville. Bender was treated and later released from NRMC. Bergman died at NRMC later that day.
 
Emergency crews searched Hazel Creek Lake for the third victim on December 10 and 11. At approximately 10:15 am on December 11, emergency crews recovered the deceased body of the third victim, Jeff Watkins, 53, of Greentop. 

The Kirksville Police Department would like to thank the agencies involved in the response to this incident. Those include the Kirksville Fire Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol/Water Patrol/Dive Team, Adair County Rural Fire Department, Adair County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri Department of Conservation, Macon Rescue Team, Mark Twain Behavioral Health, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, and anyone else we may have missed. 

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