Oklahoma Troopers Reports 2 Drownings In Green Country Over The Weekend

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said two people drowned in Green Country over the weekend. Troopers said in both situations, the person who died was not wearing a life jacket

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said so far this year, 13 people across the state have lost their lives by drowning, including these two recent deaths. OHP said in 2020 it reported a total of 40 drownings across the state. Troopers said Sunday afternoon at about 3:30 on Lake Tenkiller in Cherokee County, Clifton Youngblood drowned.

Witnesses told troopers Youngblood jumped off a boat and started to swim, but struggled, went underwater, and did not come back up. OHP said the Cherokee Nation Marshall Dive Team recovered his body.

Troopers say Youngblood was a 36-year-old from Muskogee.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said about an hour later on Sunday, Joseph Ballard Jr. drowned in Lake Keystone in Osage County. Troopers say Ballard was swimming across a cove, panicked and began to struggle, went under the water, and did not come back up.

Ballard, from Tulsa, was 22 years old.

Ernie Hotwagner said he used to volunteer to help clean up around the campgrounds near where the drowning happened and knows the area well. He said the water is several feet higher than usual right now.

"Everybody thinks they can make it all the way across and it's deep water,” Hotwagner said. “Especially up about eight foot higher or so. Right in the middle, it's probably about 30 feet deep, where the river channel goes through."

Ballard Jr.'s loved ones held a balloon release in his honor Monday afternoon.