Jason Blankenship, age 43, of Otter died Wednesday afternoon from a drowning accident in the Tongue River, just south of Birney. According to reports, Blankenship was swimming in the Tongue River with family on Wednesday afternoon, and failed to surface after going underwater.
The Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office underwent a search for Blankenship, which used boats and jet skis, as well as an airplane in the search. Blankenship’s body was eventually located in a sunken tree by the use of a sonar device, on Friday.
Rosebud County Sheriff Allen Fulton told reporters he believed the drowning was related to swimming ability, and not entanglement with underwater debris.
Blankenship’s death marks the second accidental death on the Tongue River this year. Al Fisher of Lame Deer died in an accident in the river last month, near Ashland.
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