A man who had been missing since his pleasure boat took on water early Sunday on the St. Croix River has been found and is doing well, authorities said Monday.
The mishap occurred about 2:50 a.m. Sunday on the St. Croix near Bayport, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
At the outset, 35-year-old Kristin Erickson fled the partly submerged boat and made it the short distance to shore unscathed, but the 36-year-old man with her, Jason Elgersma, was nowhere to be found.
However, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement issued Monday, "The missing boater has been found, and he did survive the accident."
Chief Deputy Dan Starry said his office was "contacted by [Elgersma's] attorney today. He is fine, and we don't have to look for him anymore in the river."
While the Sheriff's Office has yet to explain the circumstances surrounding the mystery of Elgersma's whereabouts, he has been a wanted man since a warrant for his arrest was issued in January out of Hennepin County. That warrant stems from when he missed a hearing after violating terms of his probation in connection with a drunken-driving conviction, according to court records.
Attorney Eric Thole, whose Stillwater firm specializes in criminal defense, said he had not known Elgersma before this incident. Otherwise, Thole chose not to say more except that Elgersma and Erickson, both from Minneapolis, were doing fine. He added that Elgersma is "taking care" of the warrant and will turn himself in.
In the meantime, work continued Monday morning to get the swamped boat out of the water, Starry said.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
