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Hurlburt Field Airman Dies in Boating Accident

By: Bryan Anderson Email
Updated: Sun 8:34 PM, Oct 21, 2012

Okaloosa County- A Hurlburt Field airman died Sunday morning following a boating accident in Okaloosa County. Investigators said they recovered the body of Fort Walton Beach resident, Colby Siegal, 20 years old around 7:45 a.m.

According to Hurlburt officials, Siegal and two other airmen were involved in the accident near Santa Rosa Sound, around 3:00 a.m. Officials said the boat slammed into a waterway marker, ejecting Colby and also Texas resident Taylor Wimberley, 19 years old, and North Dakota native Dereck Richards, 23 years old.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said it received a 911 call after someone spotted one of the airmen flagging down cars on Miracle Strip Parkway. The Coast Guard, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office dive team, and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers were dispathced shortly after that.

They said they found Wimberley and Richards unharmed, but then divers reportedly discovered Siegal's body underwater offshore of the Cedar Condominiums. Officials said the three airmen were not wearing life jackets. F.W.C. is in charge of the investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials said they don't believe alcohol was involved.


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