Accidents of the Week - June 1, 2024
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.
Two Men Injured When Boat Runs Aground at Texas Lake
5/17/24 – Jasper County, TX
Two men were injured -- one seriously – when the boat they were in ran aground and hit a large dirt pile at Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas, at about 3 p.m. on 17 May.
Lake Rayburn Fire Chief Brett Holloway said the boat ran aground between the east end of the dam and the Umphrey Family Pavilion. According to Chief Holloway, an older man had a broken femur just above the knee and was airlifted in a medical helicopter, while a younger man suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Holloway did not provide the names or ages of the injured men, but he understood that they were from the area of Lufkin, Texas. Meanwhile, Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens announced an investigation of the accident.
Boaters Rescued from Kentucky River Dam
5/21/24 – Frankfort, KY
After an alarming rescue on the Kentucky River, the City of Frankfort Fire and EMS in Frankfort, Kentucky, reported that everyone involved had returned to shore safely.
On 21 May, the City of Frankfort Fire and EMS shared photos and details of the rescue on Facebook. According to authorities, rescue crews were dispatched to the Kentucky River at the dam for a “vessel in distress with occupants on board.”
‘Quick Thinking’, ‘Teamwork’ Saved Boaters
Photos showed people aboard a pontoon as the boat inched closer to the dam. The rescue team deployed two boats from River View Park Boat Dock to bring the boaters back to safety, per City of Frankfort Fire and EMS.
“Upon making contact with the occupants aboard the boat, firefighters utilized quick thinking techniques and teamwork to safely remove the boaters,” City of Frankfort Fire and EMS said. “All firefighters and civilians returned to the shore and no injuries were reported.”
Man Rescued by Coast Guard After Boat Loses Power
5/5/24 - Bean Point Beach, FL
A man needed rescuing after his 19-foot boat lost power on 5 May. According to the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the man's boat stopped working 9 miles west of Bean Point, Florida.
The Station Cortez crew responded to his rescue and transported the tow to the Eckerd College Search and Rescue. The Eckerd College Search and Rescue crew then transported the man and vessel to Fort De Soto Boat Ramp.
The Coast Guard said no injuries were reported.
1 Person Drowns, 2 Rescued After Canoe Sinks on Colorado Lake
5/19/24 – San Miguel Co., CO
One person drowned and two others were rescued when a canoe they were in started to capsize on a lake in San Miguel County, Colorado.
The call about the sinking boat in Trout Lake came into the sheriff's office around noon on 19 May, when witnesses saw the canoe sinking, sending all three people into the water.
Good Samaritan Rescues Two
Before deputies arrived at the lake, a good Samaritan watched the canoe capsize and paddled out to try to rescue the people and get them to shore, when his kayak also began to sink.
The man was able to reach two of the people in the water and get them safely to shore, said the sheriff's office. Deputies said the third person went underwater and did not resurface.
The San Miguel Sheriff's Office, along with a search and rescue team, searched for the missing person into the night without any success. The search teams resumed the following morning with more resources, including a Colorado Parks and Wildlife boat equipped with sonar. Search crews used the sonar to locate the body of the missing person underwater.
The San Miguel County Coroner was set to release the identity of the victim.
11-Year-Old Hospitalized After Weekend Boating Incident
5/19/24 – Salisbury, NC
An 11-year-old sustained severe injuries during a boating accident on North Carolina’s High Rock Lake on 19 May, but was reportedly doing well following three surgeries.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by a close family friend, the left side of Lincoln Crews’s body suffered serious wounds that would require “extensive surgeries” as well as rehabilitation treatment to start the healing process.
Crews sustained the injuries after reportedly falling out of a boat. According to GoFundMe organizer Lorrel Hyde, the injury will involve long stays in the hospital along with a lengthy rehab process.
New Orleans Coast Guard Rescues Stranded Boater
5/22/24 – New Orleans, LA
The New Orleans Coast Guard rescued a stranded boater near Vermilion Bay, Louisiana, early morning on 22 May.
The Coast Guard received a call about an overdue boater around 2 a.m. stating the boater hadn't made it home. A helicopter crew was sent to search for the man along with sheriff's deputies and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
A Good Samaritan aircraft found the man and his boat around 10 a.m. The crew rescued the man and brought him back to his car. The boater was uninjured, according to the Coast Guard.
One Injured in Boat Explosion at Lake Ontario Marina
5/23/24 – Wayne Co., NY
One person was hospitalized after a boat fire at the Oak Park Marina in Wayne County, New York, on Lake Ontario’s Sodus Bay.
Investigators said a 65-year-old man from Webster, New York, was cleaning his boat around 9:15 a.m. when it “burst into flames.” The man was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with what police said were severe injuries.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said four boats were damaged in the fire.