Accidents of the Week – March 23, 2023
25 March, 2023
BoatTEST publishes “Accidents of the Week” as a public service for our VIP Subscribers to acquaint them with potential boating dangers and by inference their prevention.
Dresden Man Loses Life in Boating Fatality on Kentucky Lake
3/10/23 – Henry Co., TN
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to a report of a two-boat collision on the West Sandy portion of Kentucky Lake in Henry County, Tennessee, at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 March. The boating incident resulted in one fatality of a 39-year-old man.
A TWRA preliminary investigation indicated that a Triton boat and a Javelin boat collided, ejecting all occupants of both boats into the water. Two occupants were able to return to the boats. However, the operator of the Javelin was missing.
Several local fishermen responded to the collision to assist the boaters. TWRA used a remote operating vehicle (ROV) to locate and recover the body of TJ Long, a resident of Dresden, Tennessee.
Assisting agencies included Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County EMS, and Paris-Henry County Rescue Squad. This was the fourth boating-related fatality on Tennessee waters this year.
Kayaker dies in Sunday incident
3/12/23 – Marquette, MI
A man died in a kayaking accident late on 12 March, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Negaunee Post reported. MSP said troopers were dispatched to a report of a missing person at about 8:50 p.m. Information obtained during the investigation led troopers to believe that the missing person had gone kayaking at the Lower Harbor in Marquette.
Troopers, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Marquette Police Department, attempted to locate the kayaker in this area, at which time they located an unoccupied kayak that had washed ashore. They also located a deceased male in his early 30s, nearby in the water.
No foul play was suspected, and positive identification of the body was still pending.
Seven Rescued After Boat Collision in Florida
3/12/23 – Sanibel, Fl
Authorities investigated a boat collision between the area of Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach on 12 March. According to Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, two boats crashed at around 10:00 p.m. Officials declared that as soon as one boat struck the other, it began to sink.
One of the people on the boat called 911 and multiple agencies responded, including Sanibel Fire and Rescue District.
"Two boats were involved. One was a 50-foot sailboat, the other was an approximately 30-foot fishing vessel. The sailboat itself was anchored outside of the channel and the incoming vessel didn’t see it, and struck it," said Captain John DiMaria of Sanibel Fire and Rescue District.
Seven people were on board one of the boats when the crash took place, and they were taken to Moss Marina to be medically evaluated.
Captain DiMaria declared that the cause of the crash was under investigation. Officials could not answer if the boat was rented or whether any of the individuals were from out of town or familiar with the local waterways.
Officials Advise Caution to Visitors in Shifting Waterways
With this crash coming just a few weeks after a boat struck the base of the Cape Coral Bridge and sank, at the end of February, officials were asked about boating safety, especially during the spring break season.
"This is going to be a difficult year, I think, certainly for spring break and for some folks that are maybe coming down a vacation that are not as familiar with our waters, which have changed quite a bit in the last six months," said Adam Brown, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Brown said channel markers may not be in the appropriate places or are completely gone... some of the channels and sand bars may have shifted as well. "There’s still some debris in the water that we're fighting so, number one, just make sure that you educate yourself prior to going out on a boat."
Brown added that people needed to remain alert at all times: "Similar to operating in your vehicle on the roadway, we need to make sure you’re setting your cell phone down and paying attention to the channel that you’re in."
"Obviously with the boat traffic and our water changing so drastically with the hurricane, just knowing that some of these waters that we were originally used to may not be the same, we just need to be very careful and cautious," said Captain DiMaria. "Also, please do not operate a vessel while intoxicated as this too will cause a risk to yourself and others on the water,” he added.
Coast Guard Rescues Boaters Off Disabled Sailboat
3/13/23 – Freeport, TX
The crew of a disabled sailboat called for help, leading to their rescue by the Coast Guard about 30 miles off the Freeport coast. Watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center received the SOS at about a 9:45 a.m. on 13 March from a 38-foot sailboat, whose operator indicated was disabled and dragging anchor.
Coast Guard highlights importance of communication equipment
On board, two people with a pet cat were looking for assistance. Coast Guard officials praised the operator for having their radio equipment up to date and in working order. “Having reliable communication equipment onboard your boat such as a VHF-FM marine radio is absolutely key,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Juliann Kee, operations unit watchstander, Sector Houston-Galveston, in an official statement.
“This boat operator’s use of a marine radio enabled us to quickly dispatch rescue crews to their location and return them safely to shore.”
A 45-foot response boat with a medium crew was sent to assist, along with a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, which hoisted the boaters safely and carried them to Air Station Houston, where they had initially flown from. No injuries were reported.
Florida Man Arrested for Attacking Boater After Collision
3/15/23 – Key West, FL
A man from Key West was arrested for allegedly attacking a boater with a knife, after deputies say their boats hit each other.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to Margaret Street near the water in Key West at around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, March 15. The victim told deputies that 70-year-old Scott Alan King had attacked him with a filet knife.
The attack happened after King’s vessel began dragging anchor, causing their boats to hit each other. When deputies arrived, they said a 31-year-old man was located with knife wounds on his hands.
The victim told deputies that 70-year-old Scott Alan King had attacked him with a filet knife. Deputies said the victim tried to resolve the issue but King became angry then attacked the man with the knife.
The sheriff's office said deputies promptly arrested King, while the victim was being treated by the Key West Fire Department. King has an extensive history with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, dating back to 2014.
Injured Kayaker Rescued from Sacramento Waterways During California Storm
3/14/23 – Sacramento, CA
As a powerful atmospheric river brought localized flooding and gusts up to 60 mph in California’s capital region, city and county fire crews in Sacramento responded to multiple water rescue incidents on 14 March, including at least one resulting in serious injuries.
Kayaker not using PFD
A kayaker swept away into the fast-flowing water of the American River on the evening of 14 March was located and rescued by two boats and two helicopters, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said.
A Metro Fire helicopter transported the kayaker, who was not wearing a life jacket, to a hospital where they were in critical condition, the department said in tweets. “Unfortunately, the victim was not wearing a life jacket while occupying the river, and has since been transported to the hospital by a Metro Fire helicopter in critical condition,” Metro Fire tweeted.
Body Found After Trooper Spots Empty Boat in Georgia Reservoir
3/16/23 – Coweta Co., GA
A man was found dead after an empty fishing boat was discovered in Coweta County, Georgia.
Officials said an off-duty trooper spotted a blue kayak in the B.T. Brown reservoir. Several fishing poles and a life jacket were found in the boat, but no one was inside. The trooper remembered seeing an elderly man that day and decided to call for help.
A search was launched to find the missing man, officials said. Two rescue boats scoured the waters, one manned by Coweta County fire crews and the other overseen by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), according to officials.
While searching, his remains were found using sonar equipment provided by the DNR. Officials said his body was then pulled from the water. The man pulled from the waters was believed to be a retiree in his 70s who often visited the reservoir, which is known as a local fishing spot. Investigators were working to figure out how he had ended up in the water.