MAY 5, 2015
ROGERSVILLE, TENNESSEE
A 65-year-old Hawkins County man was killed and a second man
was hospitalized as a result of a boating accident that occurred Tuesday
afternoon on the Holston River at the dam near the John Sevier Steam Plant in
Rogersville.
Hawkins County Central Dispatch was notified of the accident
shortly after 4 p.m., and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) and the
Hawkins County Rescue Squad responded to the scene.
According to TWRA Officer Chris Seay, at around 4 p.m. the
two men were fishing from a boat below the dam when the boat was apparently
drawn into the dam, causing it to swamp or capsize.
Both occupants went into the water and a 65 year-old-man
from the Persia community of Hawkins County was killed.
Two nearby fishermen were able to rescue the surviving
occupant and recover the victim.
Both occupants were taken to shore and the survivor has
received treatment at the Hawkins County Memorial Hospital.
The dam area near Rogersville has been the site of boating accidents in the past. Water rolling
over the spillway sucks boats into a turbulent area at the base of the dam.
But, the dam is also a very popular fishing destination, and
known as a location of many small mouth bass nests.
The TWRA strongly encourages all boaters to wear life
jackets on any body of water and to make sure they are worn correctly and sized
properly.
Additionally, life jacket wear is mandatory for all boaters
from the boat ramp at John Sevier Fossil Plant up to the dam.
The TWRA further states that boaters should use extreme
caution while operating a boat near any dam or spillway due to the hazardous
conditions that exist.
Names of the victims weren’t released as of press time.
The accident remains under investigation by the TWRA.
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1 DEAD, 1 INJURED WHEN A POWER BOAT STRUCK A FISHING BOAT ON
BERLIN LAKE IN OHIO
MAY 9, 2015
BERLIN LAKE, OHIO (WKYC/WFMJ)
An Akron fisherman was killed early Saturday following a
boating accident on Berlin Lake.
Officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources tell
our sister station WFMJ that a power boat struck a fishing boat. The two men
aboard the boat were taken to a Ravenna hospital.
The Portage County Coroner's office tells WFMJ that Neil
Cuppett, 58, of Akron was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The identity
of the injured victim has not yet been released.
The injured was Bruce Lindamood, 42, of Green. Lindamood was
treated at a local hospital.
The boat operated by Cuppett and Lindamood was stationary
and had lights on, authorities said.
The suspect who struck the fishing boat fled the scene but
was later identified, authorities said. His name has not been released.
ODNR says it, along with the Portage County Sheriff and
Coroner are continuing to investigate.
WOMAN INJURED WHEN JET SKI COLLIDES WITH BOAT NEAR MONUMENT
ISLAND
MAY 10, 2015
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
A woman was airlifted to Ryder Trauma center Sunday
afternoon after the water scooter she was on collided with a boat, according to
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The 30-year-old woman, who has not been identified, had
“non-life-threatening injuries,” according to FWC Spokesman Jorge Pino.
The accident, which is being investigated by the FWC,
happened at around 6 p.m. near Monument Island in Miami Beach.
The boat remained at the scene. It was not clear Sunday
night what caused the crash and who, if anybody, would be facing charges.
IT IS SPRING AND SUMMER TIME, HERE COME THE BOATING,
SAILING, FISHING, PARASAILING AND JET SKI ACCIDENTS
It is this time of the year again with many boating,
fishing, jet ski, sailing accidents reported.
Several deaths have already been reported across the nation.
Owners and operators of boats and jet skis are liable for
injuries they cause through reckless behavior or general negligence on the
waterways of our community. At Metropolitan, we work with lawyers in
determining the factors involved in a boating, sailing, fishing, parasailing or
jet ski incident.
Since many water-related incidents involve alcohol, it’s
important to determine if a mechanized vessel (boat or jet ski, etc.) operator
was drunk or impaired at the time of an incident. However, since there can be a substantial lag
time between an incident on a lake or river and the ability of the authorities
to conduct a breathalyzer or blood alcohol test, it’s important to interview
witnesses and those onboard a boat to verify that drinking played a role. In
boating and jet ski incidents that do not involve alcohol, we expose negligence
and reckless behavior involving violations of the rules governing navigable
waters and safety compliance issues.
If you’ve been seriously injured in a boat or jet ski
incident, contact us today to begin the investigation immediately.
Injuries and Water-Related Incidents
The investigation firm of Metropolitan Forensics assists
people injured in water-related incidents involving the following:
·
Intoxicated boat operators
·
Collisions with other boats or jet skis
·
Jet ski, parasailing, fishing, sailing, boating
incidents
·
Running aground, causing people to be thrown
from the boat
·
Lack of life preservers or other safety devices
·
Hitting sandbars, buoys or other obstacles in
the water
·
Onboard fires or explosions
·
Boat Operators and Owners – Liability for
Boating Safety
Boat owners and operators are responsible for complying with
safety regulations in the upkeep and maintenance of their vessel in order to
keep us all safe.
Additionally, boats should have functioning life preservers
and a fire extinguisher. Consequently, boat owners and operators can be held
liable for injuries that result from poorly maintained boats or an absence of
life preservers. Even if a boat owner or operator is not at fault in causing an
incident, he or she can still be held liable if the lack of life preservers or
absence of a fire extinguisher played a role in injuries that occurred after a
collision.
And, while a boat owner may have little by way of boating
insurance, in most cases, damages can also be collected from a person’s home
owner’s policy.