Update: 2 dead, 5 injured in Mississippi River boat crash near Brownsville
personal flotation devices were on board the boat, but not in use, at the time of the crash
Aug 14, 2017A second person has died and five others were injured Saturday when a 32-foot boat slammed into a navigational marker on the Mississippi River south of Brownsville, Minn.
The 10-passenger pleasure craft was traveling south about 6 p.m. when it struck the day marker across from Wildcat Campground and boat landing. Authorities reported the “boat’s stern was submerged and the bow went vertical.”
A number of other boaters were nearby and immediately began attempts to retrieve and rescue the victims — none of whom were wearing personal-flotation devices, authorities said.
Diana Lynn Klankowski, 56, of Spring Grove, Minn., was transported to shore by a private craft and pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. Saturday, according to a joint release by Sheriff John B. Spears of Vernon County, Wis., and Sheriff Mark Inglett of Houston County, Minn.
An autopsy will be performed at the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.
Five others were pulled out of the water immediately after the accident, but a seventh person — Kevin Lee Hanson, 47, of Mabel — could not be found.
After nearly a day of search efforts, Hanson’s body was recovered at 4:27 p.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead by the Vernon County coroner’s office. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday in Madison.
Authorities identified the injured as:
- Robert Alf Klankowski, 52, of Spring Grove was taken to Gundersen.
- Gerald Wayne Ladsten, 57, Spring Grove was taken to Gundersen and released.
- Tracy Lynn Peterson, 40, of Spring Grove was taken to Gundersen.
Two others were not yet identified Sunday evening — a woman who was transported to the nearest helicopter landing zone by Caledonia Ambulance and flown to Gundersen Health System by Med-Link Air, and a man who was taken to Gundersen by Sparta Ambulance.
Authorities said the required number of personal-flotation devices were on board at the time of the accident, but none was being used.
More than two dozen local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies took part in the recovery and investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and the Vernon County Coroner’s Office.
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August 14, 2017 12:40 PM
(ABC 6 News) -- Authorities searching the Mississippi River for a boater missing in a crash on Saturday that killed one person and injured five others say the missing person has been identified and his body recovered around 4:27 Sunday afternoon.
In an update from the Vernon County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin, authorities identified the missing person as Kevin Lee Hanson, age 47 of Mabel, MN. He was pronounced dead by the Vernon County Coroner's Office with the help of the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. They say an autopsy is scheduled for Monday, August 14th, in Madison, WI.
Officials also report that Diana Lynn Klankowski, age 56, of Spring Grove, MN was transported to the shore, by a private craft, and pronounced dead at 6:34 PM. She was transported to the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester, MN for an autopsy.
Officials say the boating crash occurred Saturday afternoon, August 12, 2017, at approximately 6:00 PM at the Mississippi River, in the town of Bergen, Vernon County, WI, just south of Brownsville, MN.
A 32-foot, 10-passenger pleasure craft was traveling south and struck a concrete navigational marker, or day marker, directly across from the Wildcat Campground and boat landing. The boat’s stern was submerged and the bow went vertical.
Sheriff's officials say seven people were on a boat that crashed.
Gerald Wayne Ladsten, age 57, also of Spring Grove, MN was transported to Gundersen Health System, in La Crosse, by Tri-State Ambulance and later released.
An adult female, whose name will be released at a later time was transported to the nearest helicopter landing zone by Caledonia Ambulance and flown to Gundersen Health System by Med-Link Air.
Robert Alf Klankowski, age 52, of Spring Grove, MN was transported to Gundersen Health System by Tri-State Ambulance.
Tracy Lynn Peterson, age 50, of Spring Grove, MN was transported to Gundersen Health System, by Sparta Ambulance, to Gundersen Health System.
An adult male, whose name will be released at a later time was transported to Gundersen Health System, also by Sparta Ambulance.
The required numbers of personal flotation devices were on board the boat, but not in use, at the time of the crash. Several personal watercrafts were in the area and immediately responded to the crash to rescue the injured, in the water.
At the time of release, the following agencies/organizations responded and assisted with the rescue and recovery efforts:
Houston County Sheriff’s Office, boat patrol, and Sheriff Posse
Brownsville Fire & Rescue
Caledonia Fire & Rescue
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
United States Fish & Wildlife
Stoddard-Bergen Fire Department
Tri-State Ambulance
Med-Link Air
Caledonia Ambulance
La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office boat patrol
La Crosse County Dive Team
La Crescent Fire Department
Town of Shelby Fire Department
Ft. Mc Coy Fire Department (sonar)
La Crosse Police Department boat patrol
Winona County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue
Brennan Marine, La Crosse (boat recovery)
Del’s Towing & Transport (boat recovery)
Regional Medical Examiner’s Office of Southern Minnesota
Bruce’s Legacy Search & Rescue
The crash remains under investigation by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Vernon County Coroner’s Office.
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Update: Searchers find second body after boat crash
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Declan Desmond
August 14, 2017
Authorities have found the body of a Minnesota boater who went missing after a crash on the Mississippi River over the weekend.
The victim, who's been identified as 47-year-old Kevin Lee Hanson of Mabel, was one of two people killed in the accident, which happened Saturday when a "32-foot, 10-passenger pleasure craft" hit a concrete pylon near Wildcat Park in southeast Minnesota.
Hanson's body was recovered on Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the Vernon County Sheriff's Office in Viroqua, Wisconsin.
Authorities have identified the other fatality as 56-year-old Diana Lynn Klankowski of Spring Grove, Minnesota. She was pronounced dead on the shore about half an hour after Saturday's collision.
The boat's five other occupants were all injured in the crash and taken to the hospital; one of them has since been released, but there's no word yet on the current conditions of the other survivors.
The release from the Vernon County sheriff says the watercraft had the "required numbers of personal flotation devices" on board, but they were "not in use" at the time of the crash.
Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the accident.
Boat crashes in Minnesota
As of July of this year, the state has seen 42 boating accidents, preliminary DNR data says.
That includes nine fatalities. That's already higher than the number of boating deaths that Minnesota normally sees by July, according to statistics from the last several years.
Last year, a total 17 people lost their lives to boating accidents and drownings in the state.
For tips on how to stay safe on the water, check out this link.