Florissant Man Drowns Saturday On Meramec River

A 55-year-old Florissant man lost his life after falling overboard from a raft while floating on the Meramec River Saturday, September 29, near the Big Eddie Conservation Access, Leasburg.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Matthew S. Lawless, 55, fell overboard from a raft, went underwater then resurfaced once and twent underwater again.

Leasburg, Bourbon and Sullivan Fire were called to the scene to assist in the water rescue but by night’s end, rescue crews called off the search and went into recovery operations.

The body of Lawless was recovered Sunday morning, September 30, at 8:30 a.m. where Lawless was pronounced by Crawford County Coroner Paul Hutson.

The drowning was the third in 2018 for Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I, based out of Rolla.