Accidents of the Week

Accidents of the Week - March 22, 2025

Accidents, Boat Wrecks, MOB, Crew Save, USCG, Sailors Stranded, Left at Sea

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.

89-Year-Old Trapped on Lake Ice Dies; Fire Crews Rescued

3/12/25 – Genoa, MI

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

A man, 89, died after falling through lake ice; fire department personnel had to be rescued by the USCG.

An 89-year-old man has died, officials said, after the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was called to rescue him on the afternoon of 12 March from Lake Chemung, in Livingston County, Michigan.

The Coast Guard also helped members of the Fire Department from Brighton, Michigan, who were trapped during the rescue efforts. On 13 Match, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office released more information about the incident.

The 89-year-old man from the area went out on Lake Chemung for some ice sailing, deputies explained, but ended up falling through the ice.

3 Yachts Destroyed in Miami After Bursting into Flames

3/7/25 – Miami, FL

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Over 30 Fire Rescue units responded after three yachts up to 90-feet long were engulfed in flames.

Multiple yachts were destroyed after bursting into flames early morning on 7 March in Northwest Miami-Dade, Florida, prompting a massive firefighter response.

Over 30 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) units responded to a reported boat fire and, upon arrival, firefighters found three yachts engulfed in flames. According to MDFR, two of the vessels were 60 feet long, and the third was 90 feet long.

Crews immediately attacked the fires from both land and water, utilizing foam operations to knock down the flames. No one was injured. The fire was brought under control but units remained on the scene to contain fuel runoff from the vessels to minimize the environmental impact of firefighting, MDFR said.

Arson Investigators Sent to Scene

Specialized oil spill response equipment was used to contain the fuel runoff, including an oil-absorbent boom — a strong mesh-like sleeve that encases a highly absorbent material that soaks up oil and surface sheen.

The cause of the fires remained under investigation, with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and MDFR both sending arson squads to the scene.

Two Rescued After Falling Off Sailboat in Puget Sound

3/8/25 – Edmonds, WA

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Fire Rescue and Sheriff’s Office crews assisted in the rescue of a man and a woman who fell off a sailboat.

Two people were rescued from Puget Sound near Edmonds, Washington, after falling off a sailboat on the morning of 8 March, according to South County Fire.

A man and woman were pulled out of the water by a Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office rescue boat around 11:30 a.m., according to the fire department. They were brought to the Edmonds marina.

Family of Missing Boater Seeks Closure

2/26/25 – Morristown, AZ

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

Weeks after the seasoned boater’s disappearance, the family of Glen Keer, 62, sought closure.

The family of seasoned boater Glen Keer, 62, was searching for answers after his boat was found abandoned at Arizona’s Lake Pleasant without him on it.

The incident left loved ones puzzled, as Keer was known for his boating experience, which made his sudden disappearance all the more baffling. According to Keer’s sister-in-law, Marilee, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance did not add up. "I don’t understand all this," she said. "Glen knew how to handle boats, so this is really confusing."

Keer was last in contact with his family on 26 February. His truck was found parked at the Lake Pleasant Harbor Marina, but there was no sign of him. He was reported missing the following day, and his boat was discovered on the northern side of the lake with damage to its hull, as though it had been in an accident or washed ashore.

Marilee theorized that he may have gone out on the lake to test out a new motor, but she said it was unlike him to go out so late in the day. "We just need closure, if we can find at least the body," Marilee added.

Sheriff’s Office to Deploy Robotic Underwater Vehicle

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the possibility of an accident or whether Keer was ever on the lake at all. They searched the lake, both on land and in the water, but did not find any trace of him.

The sheriff’s office said they planned to deploy a robotic underwater vehicle to assist in the investigation.

Two Dead After Falling Off Boat at California Lake

3/7/25 – Fresno Co., CA

Accidents of the week, Boat Fire, Grounding, USCG, Drownings, Rescue Efforts

After Dennis Penner, 83, and Daniel Trapp, 81, ended up in the water, their empty boat spun in circles.

Authorities identified two men who died at Central California’s Millerton Lake on the morning of 7 March.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said 83-year-old Dennis Penner and 81-year-old Daniel Trapp were on a boat at the lake around 10 a.m. It's unclear how but both men ended up in the water, leaving their empty boat spinning in circles.

The two men were pulled from the water by a group on another boat and taken to shore. Emergency crews performed CPR on Penner and Trapp but they were pronounced dead at the lake. The cause of death for both men was under investigation.

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