State Police investigate fatal boating incident in Chaumont Bay

On May 15, 2026, at approximately 2:50 p.m., New York State Police at SP Watertown were dispatched along with the Chaumont Fire Department, Cape Vincent Ambulance, the Jefferson County STAR Team, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to Chaumont Bay in the village of Chaumont following a report of a subject falling into the water from a small aluminum boat traveling in the bay.

Chaumont Fire Department requested assistance from the City of Watertown Fire Department, the Henderson Fire Department fire boat, and the LifeNet helicopter to assist with search operations in the bay.

After an extensive search, the sole occupant of the boat, identified as Ryan J. Cloe, age 21, of Carthage, NY, was recovered from the water by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team and pronounced deceased at the scene. He was not wearing a life jacket.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact the New York State Police at 315-366-6000 and refer to case number NY2600619751.