2 dead and 1 missing after 12-year-old rescued from rising waters at Lake Springfield, Missouri
Two teenage girls died and a 40-year-old woman remained missing as of June 17, 2026 after four members of the same family became trapped by rising water near the dam at Springfield Lake in Missouri at 16:30 LT on June 14. A 12-year-old was rescued shortly after the incident, while search operations involving more than 40 responders continued for the missing woman.
The Springfield Fire Department (SFD) responded to the incident at Springfield Lake involving four members of a family at 16:30 local time (LT) on June 14.
The four people who had entered the water near the lake’s dam were trapped by the rising water. The youngest of the group, a 12-year-old, was rescued on June 14, after a rescuer was lowered by rope from South Farm Road 169, which serves as the dam for Lake Springfield.
Meanwhile, the other two teenagers were recovered and found deceased over the next two days. The first victim was a 19-year-old girl, who was recovered about 0.6 km (0.4 miles) downstream on June 16. Her sister was the second victim, a 17-year-old girl, who was recovered the next day.
The oldest of the group, a 40-year-old woman, remains missing as of June 17, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
The operation escalated when a rescue boat overturned in turbulent water below the dam on June 14. Three firefighters were injured during the incident and were later released after receiving medical evaluation and treatment.
“Our search efforts have included shore-based searches on foot and using UTVs, a water-based search using boats, and flights with SPD and SFD drones, including the use of thermal capabilities, covering nearly a mile and a half of the river,” SFD Fire Chief David Pennington said.
“More than 40 rescuers from multiple local agencies searched on land, in the water, and by air, including assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s dive team as well as SFD and SPD drone units,” SFD reported.
Current information indicates the victims were in a kayak connected to two inflatable tubes when the incident occurred; however, the exact details remain unknown.
The incident occurred amid ongoing severe weather conditions that brought heavy rain to parts of the central US, triggering widespread flooding.
The same severe weather system also prompted a water rescue for 15 campers in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, who were stranded by floodwaters near Peggs Community on June 14.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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