TOPOCK–It’s been a month since the search began for Raegan Heitzig, 26, who was one of four people who went missing following a tragic, Labor Day weekend boating crash near Topock, Arizona.
The three other victims, Christine Lewis, 51, of Visalia, Calif.; Brian Grabowski, 50, of Tulare, Calif.; and Kirra Drury, 24, of Ventura, Calif., were found within the first week following the crash.
As search teams with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office conduct daily operations along an 18-mile radius of the Colorado River, a Wisconsin-based search and rescue organization is packing up and heading to Arizona to lend a hand.
Bruce’s Legacy, from Black River Falls, Wisconsin, is a non-profit organization that provides independent search and rescue detail all over the United States. The organization was created by Keith Cormican in honor of his brother, a Wisconsin firefighter who died following a search and rescue attempt in the late 90’s.
Cormican, and one other team member, will hit the road Thursday from Wisconsin and is expected to arrive in Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 6.
“We received a phone call from a family friend of Raegan’s asking us if we could come and help find their loved one,” said Cormican in a telephone interview with The Bee. “Since than we have had a few different calls asking for our assistance. We told them we couldn’t get out there right after it happened, but if she was not found by the first part of October that we could come out and conduct our own search of the area.”
As the month slowly rolled on and Heitzig was still unaccounted for, the urgency for additional help grew.
“Our search will begin at the crash site and work down river,” said Cormican. “The rivers are always the worst conditions to do searches. We’re working against current and time.
Cormican said his organization has scheduled four days for the search, however, if more time is needed they will continue.
“We want to make sure all of the area is covered and we’re searching locations where she might have become snagged up on something or stuck. We want to bring closure to this family.” he said.
Cormican’s team will be utilizing boats, sonars and specialized equipment in the search. Bruce’s Legacy has been credited with finding 26 drowning victims in the past five years, with the longest victim being recovered 16 years later.
He said his team will be in contact with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office regarding information on their search patterns, but Bruce’s Legacy will be working independently from the continued search operations conducted daily by MCSO.
“Our search efforts are the same as they have been since we removed the dive teams that first week,” said MCSO spokeswoman Anita Mortensen. “Our Boating Safety Officers are still conducting daily top water and shore line searches, and our dive team is ready to enter the water at any time if something is located. Sheriff Schuster made it very clear that this search will continue until she is located and our entire Division of Boating safety agrees with that decision. Our ultimate goal is to continue searching until a resolution is brought forward for the family and the community.”
Twelve people were injured and three were killed after two boats collided shortly after 8 p.m. on Sept. 1 near Topock Gorge and Park Moabi Regional Park. Authorities say a boat carrying 10 people and another vessel carrying six people collided, ejecting all occupants in to the river. Nearby boaters in the area rushed to help pull the victims out of the water. Two victims were injured and required immediate transport to a Las Vegas hospital.
Neither of the 16 boat occupants were wearing a life vest.
Little details surrounding the crash have been released as authorities continue with their investigation. Witnesses have reported that one or both boats were traveling at a high rate of speed and without lights on before they collided with each other. Those statements have not been confirmed by authorities.
Donations are being accepted by Bruce’s Legacy to help offset search and rescue operation costs. Those can be made by visiting www.bruceslegacy.com and clicking on the “Donate” button.
Raegan Heitzig
Kirra Drury
Brian Grabowski
Christine Lewis
Prayers for the family and friends and hopefully they bring her home soon. God Bless and R.I.P.
Prayers for family and friends. Also prayers go out to search, resue and all divers. Thank you and God bless all! Be safe!
I was there at the accident that night . Brian was a dear friend.
We have a two bedroom mobile home in park moabi I would love to donate if needed.
I’m sure Mrs. Grabowski would do the same if she has not already.
Raise the boats and look under and inside of the boats.Hopefully
That would be a miracle. God bless all involved , be safe out there searching for Reagan.
Why did this have to happen ?who is responsible? So many questions and not enough answers. My heart aches. She could be one of my relatives, so much resemblance ??
I don’t know any of you, but I’ve been keeping up with this horrific accident I’m sad and angry at the same time.. negligence on their part. Please bring this beautiful soul home to her family so they can give her a proper burial. God bless you
The boats have already been recovered.
Can someone tell me how to reach out to this search and rescue party? I may be able to help and already tried contacting the Mohave County SO with no avail.
Their phone number is on their Facebook page and website http://www.bruceslegacy.com.
Super sad!
I think we need a speed limit on the river and the lake!
My prayers are thoughts are with the families!
I believe that they do have speed limits and laws that need to adhered to such as life jackets/preservers, no drinking while operating a water craft, etc. I pray they find her soon and her family finally has some mental comfort of having her home and taken care of in which ever way deemed appropriate. God bless them all, those that lost there lives, those injured, the families who lost their loved one, the first responders and those continuing to search for Reagan Heitzig.
I strongly disagree with a speed limit on the lake. Speed wasn’t to blame here.
After my heartfelt comment/post I just made, I hope it shows up eventually 🙂 God bless
Thank you for all the show of support and kind words for Reagan as the search continues. She and Kirra were best friends with beautiful loving kind souls to match. These girls were loved by so many in Ventura, Ca. and rightfully so being who they were as young adults. A reflection of how truly special they were was clear during Kirra Drury’s Paddle Out Ceremony held Sept 15th. We will continue to support both families and pray daily Reagan is located soon. Again thank you for your kindness. ?????
?Thank you to every single person involved with locating & recovering Brain, Christina, & Kirra. And presently to everyone joining to assist in the efforts to bring Rea Rea home to her family. Hugs & much love❤️Melissa #foreverlovedbysomany #stargirlstrong #thinkbeautifulthoughts
#ventura
Keith will do everything he possibly can, he always gives 110%, you folks can rest assured, if anyone can bring closure to this family, Keith can. He’s
a great man.
October 6th
Just saw Bruce’s Legacy boat parked in a gas station near Site 6 launch ramp.. Unfortunately still no victim found. Anyone know how many days they will still be searching?