Man drowns in New River

The Grayson Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries confirm a man has drowned in the New River.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries say a woman reported her husband, 63-year-old Elwood O. Montgomery of Mount Airy, North Carolina missing around 9:00 p.m. Saturday.

The woman said the couple had been kayaking, but pulled off the river at a campground near Camp Dickerson in the Fries area.

She said her husband decided to continue kayaking and fishing.

Conservation police officers from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries along with members of the Grayson Co. Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Galax Police Department, Fries Police Department, Baywood Search and Rescue, Galax Volunteer Fire Department, Fries Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the Independence Fire Department and Rescue Squad joined in the search.

Montgomery’s kayak was located approximately 1/4 mile below Camp Dickerson around 10:30 p.m.

His body was located near the kayak around 11:00 p.m.

Montgomery was not wearing a life jacket.

The incident is under investigation by Conservation Police Officers Jason Harris and George Shupe.

If you have any information on this case, please contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at (804) 367-1258.