1 dead after canoeing accident on Kankakee River

WILMINGTON, Ill. (WLS) -- A 20-year-old man who was pulled from the Kankakee River in southwest suburban Wilmington Tuesday night died early Wednesday morning.

Officials have not released the victim's name, pending family notification. They have only said he is from Morris, Ill. An autopsy is scheduled, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

Illinois Conservation Police officers said the man and three other people were on a canoe outing when they got into trouble 500 yards downstream from the Des Plaines Conservation area boat launch site. The others were able to swim to safety.

Conservation officers responding to the call found the victim in the water around 10 p.m. He was pronounced dead Wednesday at 1:10 a.m.

Robert Bolser said he heard a collision occurred on the water.

"We asked what happened," Bolser said. "He said that the canoe or boat had actually hit a canoe upriver and they were looking for somebody in the water."

Conservation police are investigating the accident.