Boating accident

[lakelover]

This was in a local paper today. I had recently been talking to my brother, who just got a new outboard, about always using his cut-off lanyard, and explained why. This tragedy brings the point home. Sad, kind of senseless. I think one can infer that the safety lanyard was not in use.

September 24, 2010
One killed, one hurt in boating mishap
Vermont men thrown overboard during outing on Lake Champlain

LOHR McKINSTRY Press-Republican Press-Republican Fri Sep 24, 2010, 03:28 AM EDT

CROWN POINT ? One man is dead and another seriously injured after a boating accident on Lake Champlain near Crown Point Thursday afternoon.

Officials said one man died of injuries sustained when he was thrown from a bass fishing boat, which then ran over him.

The North Country Lifeflight helicopter was called to transport the boat's other occupant, who was seriously injured, to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.

The names of the men, who are Vermont residents, have not yet been released.

The powerboat the men were in went out of control on the lake, throwing them overboard at about 3 p.m.

Essex County Emergency Services Director Donald Jaquish said the men were pulled from the lake by occupants of other fishing boats.

"Their boat went into a hard turn, threw them out and ran over them. They were picked up by fishermen and taken to Monitor Bay. Crown Point Fire Department ambulance took them from there to Moses-Ludington Hospital."

The Town of Crown Point operates a public campground and docks at Monitor Bay.

State Police were at Monitor Bay when the men were brought in and are investigating. The Port Henry Fire Department rescue boat, Ticonderoga Fire Department, Essex County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Coast Guard were also called to render assistance.

One of the other anglers used a marine radio to call the Coast Guard on an emergency channel after the accident occurred.

From a followup article:

The boat ran over them as it continued in full throttle and circled the stranded boaters, police said.

 

[ShadowB]

Re: Boating accident

The driver of ANY boat should wear a cut-off lanyard. I do whether I?m on my deck boat, my MV Jon, and especially the jet ski. But I see a lot of folks in larger power & fishing rigs that think they can?t lose control or get tossed. Well we all know you can no matter what type or how big the boat is, the story below is a result of poor judgment. PS - I got tossed out of my MV Jon last year and that lanyard and auto inflate saved my butt. Thanks for sharing this article, we can all use a reminder now and again.

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Boating accident

A capt died in south fl, just a bit ago, comming into a channel in heavy seas in a 50' sportfisher! It can happen in ANY boat!

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating accident

A capt died in south fl, just a bit ago, comming into a channel in heavy seas in a 50' sportfisher! It can happen in ANY boat!

A kill switch wouldn't have made any difference in this referenced case. In fact, it's possible that a kill switch would have caused additional problems. No control while coming in Jupiter Inlet (or most inlets) will result in a catastrophe. With the engine continuing to run, the 1st mate was able to regain control of the boat, pick up his Capt., and bring the boat with the other occupants in to safety. The Capt. died of injuries from falling off the bridge, and hitting his head (broken neck?) on the lower portions of the boat.

As for the original post, it wouldn't surprise me if alcohol (or even 3 Mike Hard Lemonades) were involved. Only other thing I could thing of is a steering cable or hydraulic line broke/ruptured. But I'm going with the booze.

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Boating accident

A kill switch wouldn't have made any difference in this referenced case. In fact, it's possible that a kill switch would have caused additional problems. No control while coming in Jupiter Inlet (or most inlets) will result in a catastrophe. With the engine continuing to run, the 1st mate was able to regain control of the boat, pick up his Capt., and bring the boat with the other occupants in to safety. The Capt. died of injuries from falling off the bridge, and hitting his head (broken neck?) on the lower portions of the boat.

Thats interesting i had heard that the prop got him, and also that there was not anyone else on board. However my info came as hear-say not from a article or anything. I saw a few pics someone on the beach had taken, pretty wild! what was the cause of the accident?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boating accident

Yes.... This guy was from one town south of me and I had fished in local tourny's against him.....

Here is a C&P from the local paper

Boating accident kills Cuttingsville man


ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
The Press-Republican - Published: September 25, 2010

A Rutland County man who was a passenger in a boat on Lake Champlain was killed when the vessel went out of control, threw him overboard and then ran over him, according to authorities.

State Police said William O. Wright, of Whiting, was heading south on the lake at about 3 p.m. Thursday when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of his 1991 Ranger fishing boat.

Both he and his passenger, William Brown, 60, of Cuttingsville, were thrown into the waters near Crown Point, N.Y.

The boat ran over them as it continued in full throttle and circled the stranded boaters, police said.

Nearby fishermen witnessed the accident and rushed to the men?s aid after they were struck.

Brown was pronounced dead shortly after he was brought to shore at Monitor Bay.

Wright suffered critical injuries and was taken to Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga, N.Y., before he was flown to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, listed in critical condition.

The 60-year-old is continuing to recover and was listed in stable condition Friday afternoon.

An autopsy was conducted Friday on Brown at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, N.Y., and Dr. C. Francis Varga determined he died of blunt-force trauma to the chest consistent with a boating accident.

His death has been ruled accidental.

Police are continuing to investigate the accident and have not released any further information.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Boating accident

Thats interesting i had heard that the prop got him, and also that there was not anyone else on board. However my info came as hear-say not from a article or anything. I saw a few pics someone on the beach had taken, pretty wild! what was the cause of the accident?

Please don't post hearsay. Alcohol wasn't involved; he was the charter captain and very experienced. The prop didn't hit him; the violent fall from the bridge killed him.

A kill switch wouldn't have prevented the crew from starting the motors to rescue the Captain. I think a helm seatbelt or harness would have saved his life.

I always wear the kill switch and I tell my passengers that if they don't see the neon green arm band, they are free to bring it to my attention.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating accident

Please don't post hearsay. Alcohol wasn't involved; he was the charter captain and very experienced. The prop didn't hit him; the violent fall from the bridge killed him.

A kill switch wouldn't have prevented the crew from starting the motors to rescue the Captain. I think a helm seatbelt or harness would have saved his life.

I always wear the kill switch and I tell my passengers that if they don't see the neon green arm band, they are free to bring it to my attention.

FYI - I'm not being argumentative here. If the Capt. of the boat had a killswitch lanyard attached, and fell overboard, how would the crew have then started the motors? The only way I could think of is if there was a back-up lanyard?

I agree on the seatbelt/harness, as I've thought about that frequently. Only downside I could see to one is if you are capsized, you may be stuck. I think that's why boat don't have them. Dunno.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating accident

Thats interesting i had heard that the prop got him, and also that there was not anyone else on board. However my info came as hear-say not from a article or anything. I saw a few pics someone on the beach had taken, pretty wild! what was the cause of the accident?

Here's a link to a thread about the accident, as well as links to all the photos, and how/why the photographer was there, etc. The interesting thing is that there is a webcam at that inlet, and the differences in the conditions from one day to the next are pretty crazy. I don't think I'd attempt that inlet on anything other than perfect days.

May he rest in peace....

 

[Beefer]

Re: Boating accident

Oh, and one more thing. I don't want anybody to think (based on my first post) that I don't agree with the use of kill switch lanyards. They are a proven piece of life saving equipment, and should be used at all times.

As for me, my boat doesn't have one. The old Bayliner had one, and I was pretty good about using it.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Boating accident

My boat/motor didn't have one either. My motor is a '72 model, which was manufactured before kill switchs became common.

I bought a kill switch/lanyard right here at iboats and installed it. They don't cost much money and don't take long to install. I wired mine to the grounding circuit for the powerpack in my motor.

Simple easy and something that gives me peace of mind.



???

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Boating accident

The key to boating and autos is to SLOW down!! Speed kills buddy...I see these high powered boats hauling azz all over the place. They think they are invincible. You should practice defense driving in a boat, motorcycle or auto. Bass, Cig, whatever. Anything can go wrong at high speeds. You have little time to react. Little time to correct your forward motion. Little time to watch out for the other guy or gal or object(s) in your way.

 

[Divecaptchris]

Re: Boating accident

Try telling that to the guys arround here durring scallop season! They group up 100-500 boats all with people in the water scalloping a guy in the middle will fire up idol for a min then slam it, it unreal that there are not that many accedents!

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Boating accident

I hear ya. We have people who like to haul azz at night. You see buoys that look like they have been smacked a few times. One boater landed up in the trees. Another boater was completely out of they water on a bank during the drought. That was a funny site. Styrofoam dock floats were banned here and some idiots just let theirs float away. Most of it is gone now. But before that many high night speeders were hitting them. Like hitting a cement block. Styrofoam everywhere littering the water. Who knows what happened to the boats. I bet many accidents are not reported.
I understand the primal need to haul azz. But if something bad happens then don't say "whoa is me". You brought it on yourself by not driving defensively.