A man from Hill City has died and a man from Hughes County is charged with Boating While Intoxicated after a Friday afternoon (Nov. 14, 2025, 4:04pm) incident in Potter County.
Information from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office says 911 call came in saying there were two men in the water in the vicinity of the Dodge Draw Recreation Area northwest of Gettysburg.
After arriving on scene (approximately 4:32pm), rescuers retrieved the body of Toby Keller from Hill City from the water, administered CPR and transported him to Dodge Draw Dock where he was pronounced deceased. It does not appear as though he was wearing a life jacket.
Gettysburg Fire Rescue team members boarded a pontoon boat and were taken out to the location of the incident, where they discovered a trash bag with empty beer cans and a bottle of whiskey but saw no indication of a capsized or sunken boat. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Conservation Officers then conducted an underwater scan of the area looking for a second body. No other body was located and there was no indication that a second drowning had occurred.
William (Bill) Bradford of rural Hughes County was identified as the operator of the boat that Keller fell overboard from and Bradford was arrested for Boating While Intoxicated.
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is conducting the continued investigation into Keller’s death. An autopsy is being conducted, but there’s no indication of foul play.
Officers from the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, Gettysburg Fire and Rescue, Gettysburg Ambulance, Hoven Ambulance, SD Game Fish & Parks, SD Highway Patrol and DCI responded to a call.
Image is a screenshot of a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks map of public boat ramps.
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