MEC&F Expert Engineers : BOAT CRASH KILLS 1, INJURES 3 OTHERS IN PIGEON LAKE NORTH PIER IN MICHIGAN

Sunday, May 17, 2015

BOAT CRASH KILLS 1, INJURES 3 OTHERS IN PIGEON LAKE NORTH PIER IN MICHIGAN






MAY 16, 2015

PORT SHELDON TWP, MICH.

One person is dead and three others are injured after a boat crash early Saturday morning, according to officials.  First responders said there was heavy fog at the time.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said it was a single-boat crash at the north pier in Port Sheldon Twp. around 12:50 a.m. Apparently, the boat was traveling southbound on Lake Michigan when it hit the outside wall of Pigeon Lake North Pier.

Officials said there were four people on board the boat at the time. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other three were taken to  Grand Rapids-area hospitals. 

Matthew Boomstra, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 12:50 a.m. crash, said Sgt. Cal Keuning of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department.

The three other occupants of the boat were transported to Grand Rapids area hospitals. They are: Travis Buckley, 27, of Hudsonville, Jennifer Hielkema, 23, of Byron Center and Alberto Diez, 24, of Byron Center.

 The U.S. Coast Guard, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Road Patrol, Port Sheldon Fire & Rescue, as well as several ambulance agencies assisted at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation.