08/31/2026
‼️FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE‼️
‼️‼️UPDATE‼️‼️
Tuesday September 1
Two victims found male and female
One male still missing
Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Company Assists in Search for Three Missing Boaters on Monongahela River
LUZERNE TOWNSHIP, Fayette County, Pa. — August 31, 2026 — The Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Company, working alongside multiple emergency response agencies from surrounding counties, has been assisting in an ongoing search for three missing adults following a serious boating incident on the Monongahela River.
On the evening of August 30, a towboat pushing five large, empty jumbo barges upstream was involved in a collision with a cabin cruiser pleasure boat carrying five adults.
Two occupants of the pleasure boat were rescued by personnel aboard the towboat. Both were reported to be in critical condition and were subsequently transported by medical helicopter from the scene for further treatment.
**Three occupants — one female and two males— remain missing.
Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Company personnel, along with numerous responding agencies, have participated in search efforts on and along the Monongahela River. The search has focused on the area near the 70-mile marker, in between Arensburg and East Millsboro on the Fayette County side of the river and Crucible and Rices Landing on the Greene County side.
Members of the public, including boaters, fishermen and residents along the river, are asked to exercise caution in this area and remain observant.
Anyone who sees an object, or anything unusual in the water or along the riverbank that could potentially be associated with this incident is asked not to approach or attempt to retrieve it. Call 911 immediately and provide dispatchers with as accurate a location and description as possible.
The Luzerne Township Volunteer Fire Company extends its thoughts and prayers to the missing individuals, those injured in the incident, and their families during this difficult time. We also recognize and thank the numerous fire, rescue, EMS, law enforcement and other agencies working together as search efforts continue.
Additional information regarding the incident and ongoing search will be released by the appropriate authorities as it becomes available.
