Accidents of the Week - January 27, 2024
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Large Fire Burns 3 Boats at Oklahoma Yacht Club
1/18/24 – Afton, OK
Investigators were trying to determine what caused three boats to catch fire on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake on the morning of 18 January.
It happened around 8 a.m. at the Arrowhead Yacht Club & Marina in Afton, Oklahoma, where the fire took hold of three docked boats. "There was billowing black smoke, and it was going out under the dock and coming out the other side. Flames were everywhere," said eyewitness David Young. After getting a bird's eye view with a drone, it was clear that the three charred boats were a total loss.
Quick Response Prevented Spread of Fire
Justin Alberty, Corporate Spokesperson for the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), said the quick response from Arrowhead Yacht Club staff and GRDA crews prevented the fire from spreading. "They had to tow them away from the slips. They got out there, and they had to fight the fire as they went," Alberty said.
Eyewitness Young vouched for that: "You could see the guys at the marina running and working. And the boats were coming around, and they were already starting to pull some of the boats that weren't on fire and pull them out. And then they pulled the ones on fire out and got them."
Alberty said no one was in the boats, and no crews were injured towing the boats away from the docks.
2 People, Dog Rescued After Falling Through Ice on NY Reservoir
1/13/24 – Hamilton Co., NY
Two individuals fell through the ice after trying to rescue a dog in New York’s Hinckley Reservoir at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, 13 January, explained Fire Chief Kevin Kalk of the Trenton Joint Fire District.
Kalk said one of the individuals’ dog had run out onto the frozen reservoir before landing in the water, and the owner had jumped into a kayak in hopes of rescuing the animal. That person also fell into the water while trying to pull the dog out of the frozen waters, and a good Samaritan jumped into their kayak and attempted to rescue both, but their boat also flipped.
Emergency calls were instantly made and the dog owner was able to pull themselves to safety before responders arrived.
Search Called Off for Boater Ejected from Vessel
1/14/24 – St. Thomas, VI
A 30-hour search for Todman Davaughn, 51, was called off on the afternoon of 15 January, authorities announced.
Mr. Davaughn had been boating on 14 January in the Virgin Islands, near St. Thomas’ Coki Point Beach and Thatch Cay, when someone called in to report that a person had been ejected from a power boat after it crashed and spun out of control.
St. Thomas Rescue responded immediately, deploying a search and rescue drone. They found the 30-foot white Fountain boat being towed ashore by a friend of Mr. Davaughn, but the sole occupant of the vessel was nowhere to be seen.
Boats, Divers, Drone, Helicopter Deployed in Search
The volunteer emergency response organization deployed a boat and divers, while Coast Guard assets including a helicopter, a sentry aircraft, and a 33-foot vessel were dispatched to the area to aid in the search. Coast Guard cutter Joseph Tezanos was also launched, conducting overnight search operations.
The following afternoon, however, the unsuccessful search efforts were discontinued and Mr. Davaughn’s family notified.
Airboat Carrying Passengers Crashes in Florida Everglades
1/17/24 – Miami, FL
Authorities were trying to determine what caused an airboat to crash on the evening of 17 January in the Florida Everglades in southwest Miami-Dade, officials said.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. near the Everglades Alligator Farm, located at 40351 SW 192nd Ave. in Homestead, officials said. Only minor injuries were reported among the dozen or so passengers who were on board but no one was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to county officials.
It was not immediately clear what led to the crash or whether the operator would be charged in connection with the incident. Live video from the scene showed a boat on its side and several people standing around at a nearby site.
Boater Rescued from Creek in North Carolina
1/11/24 – Mt Holly, NC
A boater is safe following a heroic rescue on Dutchman's Creek in Mount Holly, North Carolina, on Thursday 11 January, officials said.
The Mount Holly Fire Department and Police Department responded after a concerned citizen notified a Mt. Holly Police officer about a boater stranded in the middle of Dutchman's Creek, near Nims Avenue, where officials located the stranded individual whose boat had become lodged between two trees, due to recent flooding.
Boat Overturned Within 5 Minutes of Rescue
Firefighters were able to deploy a rope bag to the distressed boater, who attached the rope to the pontoon. Firefighter Blake Davis, secured by a tagline, skillfully navigated his way to the stranded boat and was able to successfully bring the boater ashore.
The boat overturned within five minutes of the rescue, though no one was hurt in the incident, officials said.
Two Rescued from Stranded Boat on Nevada Lake
1/13/24 – Reno, NV
Two people were rescued from a stranded boat by Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue (TMFR) on Nevada’s Washoe Lake, on 13 January.
Firefighters recovered the two using a rescue boat and took them to the boat ramp. TMFR reported the two were being evaluated but appeared to have no serious medical issues. TMFR then removed the stranded boat.
Boats Catch Fire at Marina in Lake Dallas
1/14/24 – Lake Dallas, TX
Lake Cities Fire Department responded to a boat fire at Lakeview Marina in Lake Dallas, Texas, on the morning of 14 January, with two boats involved and no injuries reported.
A boat caught on fire which caused another nearby boat to catch fire, according to a statement from Lake Cities Fire. Both boats were removed from the covered dock with assistance from the Lewisville and Little Elm Fire Departments.
The incident was under investigation.