5 Drown in Oklahoma Lakes Over Holiday Weekend

News9.com

NORMAN, Oklahoma - Oklahoma Highway Patrol search crews have located the body of a North Carolina man who drowned at Lake Thunderbird.

The man drowned at about 8 p.m. Sunday while swimming in the water with co-workers from Tinker Air Force Base. Authorities say they do not think alcohol was involved. It appears the man was trying to swim too long of a distance.

The man was the fifth person to drown in an Oklahoma lake during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

On Friday afternoon, Johnny Montoya, 36, was pulled from Lake Thunderbird. He went into the water late Thursday night. His body was found in water about 10-feet deep.

On Lake Texoma in Marshall County, authorities said Ronald Griffin, 64, of Texas, was last seen walking down the shore line when he told friends he was going to cross the water to another island.  Griffin went under and never resurfaced. His body was recovered Sunday about 25 yards from shore in 10 feet of water. Investigators have not said exactly what caused Griffin to drown.

Shawn Thogmartin, 37, died after drowning in Lake Murray near Ardmore. He was swimming with his children when he went under.

Authorities said Thogmartin had been complaining about low blood sugar prior to the incident.

A fifth drowning occurred at Altus Lake. Vincent Tate, 43, was thrown off the jet ski he was riding. He was wearing a life jacket, but he was knocked unconscious after hitting the water.