By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

A Butler County sheriff's helicopter tries to attach a hook to a boat that washed over the dam on the Great Miami River in Hamilton. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

HAMILTON - Two people were presumed dead Friday after their boat apparently lost power and went over a low-level dam on the Great Miami River in Hamilton.

The victims were identified as Kevin Lodder, 24, of Hamilton, and Danny Brodnick, 49, of Miamisburg, Ohio. According to the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Brodnick was on a test ride in the 26-foot cabin cruiser that he planned to purchase from Lodder Marine in Fairfield.

A third person was able to escape the boat and swim to safety as the large pleasure craft began to drift toward the dam, officials said. None of those in the boat appeared to be wearing life jackets, the sheriff's office said.

"The witnesses are indicating the boat began to stall," said Maj. Anthony Dwyer of the sheriff's office. "Witnesses, along with fire/rescue personnel, did see two bodies in the water."

The accident happened about 2:30 p.m. in front of Miami University's Hamilton campus on the south side of the city.

"We're still looking into this as to why the craft was on the water," Dwyer said. At about 9:30 p.m., the search was called off for the night.

Several relatives or friends of the victims ran to the scene shortly after the accident and started screaming hysterically. They were quickly escorted away by officials.

Rescuers worked for several hours securing the white-and-blue craft as it rested sideways against the dam. Eventually, the boat was pulled onto rocks at the river's western shore.

The bodies remained in the water late Friday afternoon. The river was swollen from recent rain, which made recovering the bodies treacherous, officials said.

"When you get this, the churning motion of the water and the current, it is very difficult," said Hamilton Fire Chief Joe Schutte. "We can't get real close to it."

Water rushed over the dam in a boil. The craft leaned against the dam as water continually slammed into it.

A friend of one of the victims came to the scene to try to help Lodder's family.

"Every time we'd go out, we'd do something fun," said Scott Bryant, of Ross, who had known Lodder for about a year. "He would bend over backward for everybody. He knew everything about boats."

Witnesses said they were helpless as they watched the boat slide over the dam.

Ryan Miller, 16, of Hamilton was fishing on the bank when he saw the boat pulled over.

"All of a sudden it fell over and it threw (the people) into the water," he said. "They were hanging on. I'm sick to my stomach right now."

E-mail daveck@fuse.net