SENECA – A man who had just stopped to water his dog was credited with saving the life of one of two men involved in a boating accident last Friday, Aug. 17.

The second man drowned after the boat overturned in Poison Creek Reservoir, south of Seneca.

John Day Dispatch alerted police and ambulance crews about 11:20 a.m. to a report that a person had drowned in the lake, located just off Highway 395.

Clinton Bacon, 46, of Burns had stopped by the lake and let his dog out of his vehicle when he saw a boat overturn about 30 feet from shore. The two occupants, who were not wearing life vests, fell into the water.

Bacon called out to the men, who responded initially that they were alright. However, shortly after that they began calling for help.

Bacon ran into the water and swam out to the man.

He was able to grab the younger man, Talyn James Elliott, 19, and help him reach shore. However, the other man, Troy Don Daniels, 41, slipped under the water and did not resurface.

Bacon was able to call 9-1-1 for help, and Oregon State Police Trooper Tom Hutchison arrived on the scene to help.

Hutchison also went into the water, swimming out to the overturned boat. He found Daniels about 10 feet down in the water. Hutchison and Bacon pulled Daniels to shore, where the trooper began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

However, that effort was unable to save Daniels, who had been under water 45 to 60 minutes. A state trooper who also is a designated deputy medical examiner arrived after a few minutes and determined that the man was dead.

The lake was described as choked with weeds, making it difficult to swim in.

The drowning report drew OSP troopers from John Day and Burns, as well as Grant County Sheriff’s deputies and Grant County emergency crews.