Boating Accident Victim Recovered

By Harold Bearden
Thursday, July 28, 2011 | 12:07 PM
https://hbtv.us/news/?story_id=832

Jerry Harris, 64, Haleyville, and his brother, Billy Harris, 62, of Bear Creek, drowned when thrown from their boat while fishing near Mon Dye Bottoms Tuesday. Franklin County Coroner Elzie Malone pronounced Jerry Harris dead at the scene where his body had washed up on shore near the location of the accident. Dive teams from Franklin and Colbert Countiesand a search dog unit from Madison County continued their search for the body of Billy Harris early Wednesday morning on Cummings Creek just north of the Mon Dye bridge. His body was recovered at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. 

Wayne Armstrong, 61, of Haleyville, was also thrown from the boat when the steering cable apparently broke and caused it to become uncontrollable making tight circles. Armstrong swam to shore, broke a window to get into a house and called 9-1-1. 

Reportedly, none of the men were wearing life jackets. According to family and friends, the men were avid fishermen and were frequent visitors to the Mon Dye Bottoms area on Bear Creek.