Centralia teen dies in boating accident at Carlyle Lake

Hunter Nichols    A Centralia teen was pronounced dead following a boating accident on the east side of Carlyle Lake in the Coles Creek area.
    Hunter Nichols, an 18-year-old Centralia High School senior, was ejected from a jon boat on Saturday, Sept. 5. Clinton County Coroner Phillip Moss pronounced Nichols dead at 8:37 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6.
    According to Moss, Nichols was a passenger on the jon boat when it struck a wake and he was ejected.
    A wake is a region of disturbed flow that occurs downstream from an object moving through water. When a boat moves through the water, it displaces the fluid, creating waves that spread outward from the source.
    The boat's propeller made contact with Nichols before he disappeared in the water. He was not wearing a life jacket. 
    Multiple law enforcement agencies searched Carlyle Lake for Nichols on Saturday. The search was suspended due to darkness at 7:30 p.m. The search resumed at 7 a.m. Sunday and Nichols was found about 45 minutes into the search.
    The Illinois Department of Natural Resources police led the search. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Clinton County Sheriff's Department and the Keyesport Fire Department dive team all assisted in the search.
    Nichols was born July 9, 2008, in Clayton, Missouri. He is the son of Jesse Nichols and Amy (Backs) Nichols.
    Nichols played football his freshman and sophomore years at Centralia and was a member of the wrestling team his freshman through junior seasons. He loved being outdoors, and hunting and fishing were his favorite ways to spend his time. He loved being around his family and friends.
    A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia.