Man missing; drowning likely

Anthony Joseph Bachman is presumed to have died on Saturday, Aug. 16 after falling off of the bow of a moving pontoon boat on Middle Thompson Lake, according to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.  

Bachman, 62, is presumed to have drowned at around 6:10 p.m. He was from Missoula.

Middle Thompson Lake is across from Logan State Park, about 45 miles southeast of Libby.

Witnesses aboard the boat attempted to rescue Bachman but were unsuccessful, according to the release. Bachman was not wearing a personal flotation device.

An emergency call was placed to county dispatch within about 10 to 15 minutes of the incident. Members of Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Fisher River Valley Fire & Rescue, David Thompson Search and Rescue, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded. A Flathead County Sheriff’s helicopter was used in the response.

The search for Bachman continued until dark Saturday night, and then resumed all day Sunday. The search has continued and the body has not yet been located as of midday Monday.

Divers, dog teams and sonar equipment were on scene during the weekend.

Initial indications are that alcohol consumption was a contributing factor to this accident.

The accident is being jointly investigated by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks.