Boat Damaged After Explosion

A pontoon boat was damaged Sunday night after the outboard motor exploded. The Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol reports gas had built up in the outboard motor housing causing an explosion when the boat’s operator, 52-year-old Kurt B. Neely of Liberty, went to shift into neutral. The operator was then able to put out the fire with an extinguisher. The incident occurred at the 34 mile marker. There were no injuries reported.