Search on for Carthersville man who fell from boat in Mississippi River

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- The search continued early Monday for a Caruthersville man who fell from a boat while on the Mississippi River Sunday evening, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

Jeffrey Leon Bollinger, 46, who recently moved to Caruthersville, was not found during a search Sunday evening, which was suspended due to nightfall and safety reasons, according to a news release from the Caruthersville Police Department. The search resumed Monday morning for the white male, who is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

Around 5 p.m., Pemiscot County dispatchers received a call from the Lake County, Tenn., sheriff's office in regard to a man falling from a boat. The news release indicates the accident was reported to authorities after Bollinger was in the river for more than two hours.

Officials later learned a group of three men launched their boat from Reynolds Park in Caruthersville earlier in the day and had traveled to White Rock Landing near Tiptonville, Tenn. Information indicated the accident occurred while the men were on their way back from Tennessee to the boat ramp in Caruthersville.

The United States Coast Guard located in Memphis, Tenn., was made aware of the situation, and the Lake County Rescue Team and Pemiscot County Emergency Response team also had rescue boats in the water in an attempt to locate the victim.