Authorities search Keuka Lake for man

Authorities are searching for Richard O’Dell, 45, of Morrcrest Drive, Corning. According to Sheriff Joel Ordway, O’Dell fell off the back of a boat on Keuka Lake shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday.

Reports indicated the boat was traveling north at a low speed at the time of the incident.

There were three other adults on the boat; one adult dove into the water to search after O’Dell failed to resurface.

O’Dell was reportedly not wearing a life vest when he entered the water.

Steuben and Yates county sheriff’s department dive teams, along with volunteers from several area fire departments, searched the waters approximately a half-mile north of the Switzerland Inn, a popular lakefront restaurant.

The Switzerland Inn was hosting the Miss Keuka Lake Swimsuit Pageant Saturday.

The Steuben County sheriff’s department has set up a command post in the Keuka area to coordinate search operations, which will continue this morning.

Ordway urged all boaters to stay away from the search area.