IMPORTANT NOTE: Michael Craig Walls and the lead Coast Guard rescue coordinator for this search will be available for interviews today at 4 p.m. Also, photos and video of the debris and a Coast Guard helicopter searching the St. Johns River are available for download below.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Coast Guard rescue coordinators closed the case on two missing boaters on the Intra-Coastal Waterway near the James Turner Butler Blvd. Bridge here at approximately noon today after significant investigative work by rescue coordinators.

Michael Craig Walls, 32, and Ray Ash of Jacksonville, Fla., were on a 12-foot johnboat last night when a 32-foot sport fishing vessel and the johnboat collided immediately sinking the vessel and sending the two men in the water at about 10 a.m.. The 32-foot boat stopped and picked up the men and took them to the Beach Blvd. Boat Ramp in Jacksonville Beach. The two men had lost two blades on their propeller and drifted into the navigational channel in the ICW when the accident occurred.

A Good Samaritan heading north on the ICW called Coast Guard rescue coordinators and reported seeing fuel and debris in the vicinity of the JTB Bridge at about 1:40 a.m. The Good Samaritan had towed Walls and Ash to that area earlier in the evening and left them to fish near the bridge. The debris the boater saw matched the boat he towed earlier. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter rescue crew from Savannah, Ga., and a rescue boat crew from Mayport, Fla., to search the area. The crews spotted several lifejackets and floating debris in the area. Coast Guard crews searched the ICW and St. Johns River, Fla., throughout the night for missing boaters with the help of crews from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard rescue coordinators were looking for any information about the boaters they could find. Rescue coordinators contacted all of the commercial salvage companies in the area and asked them to provide the phone numbers of anyone who may have called for assistance Saturday night. Rescue coordinators called the numbers and eventually got a hold of Walls' wife who put them in touch with Walls.

Investigators with FWC are investigating the incident. 

To download video, right-click the links below and select "save as" to save them to your computer.

Video clip 1 - Coast Guard rescue coordinators and crew members examine debris from Michel Craig Walls' vessel. 

Video clip 2 - Coast Guard rescue coordinators and crew members examine debris from Michel Craig Walls' vessel.

Video clip 3 - A Coast Guard helicopter crew searches a portion of the St. Johns River. 

Video clip 4 - A Coast Guard helicopter crew searches a portion of the St. Johns River.

To download photos, right-click the thumbnails below and select "save as" to save them to your computer.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - This Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew from Savannah, Ga., combed the Intra-Coastal Waterway looking for Michael Craig Walls and Ray Ash of Jacksonville, Fla. The men were in a 12-foot john boat last night that was hit by a 32-foot vessel. The passengers on the vessel were able to pick Walls and Ash up and take them safely to shore. A Good Samaritan spotted the debris from Walls vessel at approximately 1:40 a.m. and reported it to Coast Guard rescue coordinators. Rescue crews from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office combed the ICW for any sign of the men. The men apparently called a commercial salvage company earlier in the night before they were hit. Coast Guard rescue coordinators called all the salvage companies to get records of their calls from last night. Rescue coordinators got through to Walls' via his cell phone at about noon today. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville, Fla. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Debris from the vessel of Michael Craig Walls and Ray Ash of Jacksonville, Fla. The men were in the 12-foot john boat last night when it was hit by a 32-foot vessel. The passengers on the vessel were able to pick Walls and Ash up and take them safely to shore. A Good Samaritan spotted the debris from Walls vessel at approximately today 1:40 a.m. and reported it to Coast Guard rescue coordinators. Rescue crews from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office combed the ICW for any sign of the men. The men apparently called a commercial salvage company earlier in the night before they were hit. Coast Guard rescue coordinators called all the salvage companies to get records of their calls from last night. Rescue coordinators got through to Walls' via his cell phone at about noon today.  Coast Guard photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville, Fla.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A crewman from a Coast Guard rescue boat from Station Mayport, Fla., examines debris from the vessel of Michael Craig Walls and Ray Ash of Jacksonville, Fla. The men were in the 12-foot john boat last night when it was hit by a 32-foot vessel. The passengers on the vessel were able to pick Walls and Ash up and take them safely to shore. A Good Samaritan spotted the debris from Walls vessel at approximately today 1:40 a.m. and reported it to Coast Guard rescue coordinators. Rescue crews from the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office combed the ICW for any sign of the men. The men apparently called a commercial salvage company earlier in the night before they were hit. Coast Guard rescue coordinators called all the salvage companies to get records of their calls from last night. Rescue coordinators got through to Walls' via his cell phone at about noon today. Rescue crews from Station Mayport searched for the two men throughout the night. Coast Guard photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville, Fla.

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.