78-year-old drowns in her vehicle as she backs boat into Lake of the Ozarks, cops say

A 78-year-old woman drowned while lowering a boat into the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri cops say.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers said Nina Rhodes, of Sunrise Beach, had just launched a boat into the water Monday, Aug. 28, when she had an “unknown medical event.”

It caused her to lose control of her Jeep Grand Cherokee, which entered the water and submerged Rhodes, patrol officers said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her body was taken to Kidwell-Garber Funeral Homes in Versailles, Missouri.

Rhodes’ death is one of several fatalities in recent days at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Nicolette McKenna, 44, died Saturday, Aug. 26, after a boat operator struck a breakwater, McClatchy News reported.

A 2-year-old boy drowned while with his family at the lake Sunday, Aug. 27, according to McClatchy News.

This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 6:44 AM with the headline "78-year-old drowns in her vehicle as she backs boat into Lake of the Ozarks, cops say."