Accidents of the Week - September 14, 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 Hospitalized After Boat Hits Rocks in Virginia

9/1/24 – Hampton, VA

A boat crash that took place near the Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton, Virginia, was being investigated by authorities. Two people were injured in the crash, including one who remained hospitalized.

On 1 September, the boat crashed into rocky remains where an old lighthouse used to stand. The boat in question, a 23-foot 2017 Carolina skiff, was seen laying on its side on the rocks for several days. It was not immediately removed after its driver, 49-year-old Hampton resident Cortney Cunningham, struck the pile of rocks.

Ejected Passenger Suffered Serious Head Trauma

The impact of the crash ejected the passenger, 38-year-old Katie Cunningham, who was taken to Riverside Newport News Hospital with serious head trauma. She remained stable with a skull, orbital, and shoulder fracture as well as 10 broken ribs. Meanwhile, Cortney Cunningham was released from hospital with broken bones, including a cracked rib and wrist.

A newly installed radar unit failed to detect the rock pile, Cortney Cunningham stated. Alcohol was not suspected to have been a factor in the crash and an investigation was still ongoing, with a Virginia Marine Police Critical Incident Response Team investigator conducting a boating accident reconstruction.

Fire Department Says Life Jacket Saved PWC Rider

9/4/24 – Marysville, KS

A life jacket saved a person after their personal watercraft (PWC) flipped on Hillsdale Lake in Johnson County, Kansas, on the evening of 4 September. Local news cameras captured the scene as first responders arrived.

The fire department reported that the person, kept afloat by the life jacket, was able to call 911. Dispatchers stayed on the phone with the person until help arrived.

The person was not injured in the incident, highlighting the importance of wearing life jackets on the water.

‘Intense’ Fire Destroys Three Boats in Connecticut Marina

9/2/24 – Chester, CT

Three boats were destroyed and three others suffered some damage after what was described as an “intense” fire at the Hays Haven Marina in Chester, Connecticut, on the night of 2 September.

The owner of the marina on the Connecticut River said the fire broke out around 9 p.m. and no one was injured. The cause of the fire was not yet known.

1 Dead, 1 Injured After PWC Collision on California Lake

9/7/24 – Shasta Co., CA

A collision between two personal watercraft (PWC) on Shasta Lake in Shannon Cover, near Sacramento Point, California, resulted in one death and one injury on Saturday 7 September.

When Shasta County Sheriff's deputies arrived on the shoreline they located a 19-year-old man with a knee injury and an 18-year-old with injuries to his chin and face. Deputies said they found out the two were operating a jet ski when they were hit by another PWC operated by a 21-year-old man who did not require any medical attention.

The two men who were injured were taken to Bridge Bay Marina where medical crews were waiting, but when they arrived at the marina the 18-year-old became unresponsive, deputies said. Both men were taken to a local hospital, but the 18-year-old did not survive his injuries.

After his next of kin were notified, the person who died in the crash was identified as Dominic Marshall Lencioni, of Arroyo Grande, California, a student at Chico State.

The Shasta County Sheriff's Office Boating Safety Unit was investigating the collision and asked anyone with information to contact them.

Twins, 11, Hospitalized After Tubing Accident

8/30/24 – Marshall Co., OK

Two children ended up in hospital after a personal watercraft accident on Lake Texoma. The accident happened just after 2:00 p.m. on 30 August.

First responders were called to the Sanders Island boat ramp south of Kingston, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) said two children were being pulled on a tube by a PWC when they were slung into a parked boat.

Witnesses told local reporters that the children were twin 11-year-old boys. OHP said both children were taken to hospitals in Texas, but there was no word on their condition.

Coast Guard: Good Samaritan Helped Stranded Boaters

9/7/24 – Manatee, FL

A quick-thinking good Samaritan tipped first responders off to a boat stranded on the afternoon of 7 September, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Santiago Gomez said the 19-foot Bayliner was spotted 20 nautical miles West of Florida’s Anna Maria Island. Investigators said the boat had become disabled in the water with four people on board.

Stranded Boaters Had No Way to Alert Authorities

None of the people on board had a way to communicate to emergency personnel they were experiencing problems with the vessel, Gomez explained. He said the watercraft was towed safely back to shore in an “assist mission,” and no one on board was hurt.

Miami Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Boat Fire

9/7/24 – Miami, FL

Quick action marked the scene when a boat caught fire at The Miami Outboard Club, on the morning of 7 September.

According to local news reports, firefighters arrived at 10:11 a.m. to find a 39-foot open fisherman boat with smoke emerging from the cabin. No one was injured, and the Miami Department of Fire-Rescue performed a prompt foam operation, effectively extinguishing the fire and preventing damage to nearby vessels.

Quick Response Prevented Spread of Fire

After arriving on the scene, the boat's owner provided information, but the cause of the fire was not clear. Protected by the quick response of firefighters with foam and due diligence, the scene was secured without injury or further incident.

The incident took place at the marina located on 1099 MacArthur Causeway, which was not affected by the incident and continued to operate as usual. The cause of the blaze was under investigation.