The team, outfitted with sonar equipment searched for three missing boaters presumed drowned following a 9 p.m. collision between two ski boats Saturday.

Natchitoches deputies used the sonar to locate the bodies of the victims and guided divers to their location in 50 feet of water.

The Natchitoches team collaborated with the Baton Rouge City Police dive team. Lt. Doug Rachal said all worked very well together and all bodies were recovered.

"There were four people in each of the two boats," said Rachal. "There were three fatalities, one serious injury and four were uninjured."

Nearby campers assisted in the rescue of the remaining boaters.

"Since receiving this specialized Sonar equipment, I have sent my team to several locations within the state and East Texas to assist the local and state departments in the recovery of bodies and evidence and we are here to assist whenever needed," said Jones.

The victims awere identified as Sterling Forbes, 22, Christopher W. Austin, 20, and Brian Doherty, 21, all of Baton Rouge.

This story provided by the Natchitoches Times. Visit www.natchitochestimes.com to see photograph.