Accidents of the Week - May 23, 2026
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Two Injured in Lake of the Ozarks Boat Fire
5/3/26 – Osage Beach, MO
Two boaters from Jefferson City, Missouri, were hurt in a fire at the Lake of the Ozarks on 3 May, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s online report.
A 25-year-old man had fueled up a 1987 Cobalt boat when it caught fire. The driver and a 50-year-old man suffered minor injuries and were treated at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.
Boater Appears Passed Out Before Crashing into Rocks
5/1/26 – Steilacoom, WA
Authorities were investigating after a boat crashed on 1 May near the Steilacoom Ferry Dock in Steilacoom, Washington, with video appearing to show the operator unresponsive at the wheel.
West Pierce Fire and Rescue said crews responded to a vessel collision near 54 Union Avenue around 5 p.m., with only one person aboard. The operator was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and further details remained under investigation.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, witnesses reported the boat operator appeared to be passed out while the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed. Multiple witnesses confirmed there was only one occupant in the boat.
Operator Taken into Custody on Suspicion of BUI
A witness also reported the boat nearly collided with two ferries before crashing into a rock embankment. The operator was ejected from his seat, landed in the water and was seen climbing out onto the rocks. When deputies arrived, crews had pulled a 21-year-old man from the water. A person from a traveling ferry captured the incident on camera.
Deputies said there were multiple alcohol bottles and the man smelled of intoxicants. Crews took the man to the emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries. He was later taken into custody on suspicion of boating under the influence.
Deputies Rescue Two Before Boat Sinks
5/2/26 – Nassau Co., FL
Two people were safe after their boat started sinking near Florida’s Fort Clinch on 2 May, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. It all happened when their boat hit some rocks at the entrance to the St. Marys River and started taking on water fast.
The local Marine Unit was out doing its usual patrol when they heard the emergency call for help over the radio. Within about 15 minutes, officers made it to the scene and saw the boat was filling up with water. They told the people on board to grab what they could and get off the boat right away.
More help showed up from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue, and together they got everyone out just before the boat sank. They even managed to pull out a jet ski and a small dinghy.
Deputies later said that the wrecked boat was stuck about 50 yards from the shore, just north of the beach access, and they warned people to stay away.
One Rescued After Falling from Boat, Clinging to Tree
5/6/26 – Rich Hill, MO
Emergency crews rescued a person after they fell out of a boat and clung to a tree in the water at the Peabody Conservation Area in Rich Hill, Missouri.
The Rich Hill Fire Department said the call came in around 1:45 p.m. on 6 May. Firefighters and a Bates County deputy noted that they hiked to the person’s location and rendered aid until a Fire Department boat reached the scene.
First responders indicated that they safely brought the individual to shore. No injuries were reported. The Butler Fire Department, Bates County EMS and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office all assisted in the rescue.
“This rescue is an excellent example of multiple agencies working together effectively to serve our community,” a Rich Hill Fire Department spokesperson said.
No Injuries After Sailboat Capsizes on Illinois Lake
5/6/26 – Crystal Lake, IL
No one was injured after a sailboat capsized on Crystal Lake, Illinois, on the evening of 6 May, authorities said.
Mark Menzel, Deputy Chief of Operations and EMS for the Crystal Lake Fire Department, said emergency personnel had been dispatched to Crystal Lake for a possible boating accident at 6:10 p.m. Fire personnel arrived on scene within six minutes, Menzel said, and reported two people in the water with the Lakewood Police Department near them.
Unharmed Sailors Wearing PFDs, Protective Gear
Upon investigation, crews determined the incident was not a boating accident, but rather a sailboat that had capsized. The occupants attempted to right the vessel but were unsuccessful, Menzel said.
Both individuals were wearing appropriate protective clothing and personal flotation devices, Menzel said, preventing the situation from becoming a more serious emergency. An ambulance crew evaluated both occupants for exposure to the cold water temperatures.
Alabama Authorities Rescue Stranded Boater
5/2/26 – Monroe Co., AL
A stranded boater was located and safely returned to shore in Monroe County, Alabama, the Monroe County Rescue Squad posted on its Facebook page on 2 May.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., Monroe County Rescue Squad received a call regarding a stranded boater north of the country’s Silver Creek. The Rescue Squad deployed a boat from Isaac Creek and traveled north to the reported area.
Volunteers were able to locate the stranded boater and safely return him to shore. The Rescue Squad’s Facebook post expressed thanks to all volunteers who responded and assisted with this call, stressing that “your dedication and willingness to serve are greatly appreciated.”
Search Underway for Man After Kayak Overturns
5/10/26 – St Louis Co., MO
Authorities were searching a pond at Spanish Lake Park in north St. Louis County, Missouri, for a man thought to be in a kayak that overturned on the afternoon of 10 May.
St. Louis County Police Department spokeswoman Vera Culley said police responded to the park in the 12500 block of Spanish Pond Road shortly after 4 p.m. Culley said witnesses told police a man had "possibly fallen into the pond."
Kate Freshman, a spokeswoman for the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District, said firefighters were looking for the man in Spanish Lake, one of two lakes in the park. At about 6:45 p.m., first responders called off the search for the night and planned to resume looking for the man the following morning.
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