Authorities search for missing boater at Norton Reservoir | Local News

NORTON — Firefighters and police were searching for a missing boater in Norton Reservoir Monday evening.The Northern Bristol County Dive Team was activated and crews from Norton, Mansfield, Easton and North Attleboro gathered at a boat ramp on Juniper Road, according to communications from police and firefighters.The boater, aged 40, was with two other men, then allegedly jumped into the water from the back of the boat without a life jacket and did not resurface. Authorities were initially notified of the incident when at least one occupant of the boat called to say he had lost power and his cellphone battery was almost dead.Police spotted the boat around 7:30 p.m. between a large and small island in the reservoir but only saw two men on the boat.The Cumberland Water Rescue Dive Team was called shortly after 9:30 p.m. to assist in the search, during which police also used sonar.State police and Massachusetts Environmental Police were on scene.Authorities said they would continue their search for as long as it was safe to do so. Norton Reservoir, located mainly in Norton but partly in Mansfield, is a popular location for water activities including boating, especially kayaking, swimming and fishing.The average depth is only 3 to 4 feet, but some parts are a few feet deeper and the water is relatively calm.The Rumford River flows into the 530-acre body of water, which is not a reservoir.It is visible from Mansfield Avenue (Route 140) and is also located off Reservoir Street.There have been a few tragedies in recent decades at Norton Reservoir.In October 2000, a night of camping and boating on the waterway turned tragic for two brothers when one of them drowned.Another drowning reportedly involved a person who fell while fishing at Reservoir Street Dam.