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| Timothy Moore, 54, and Penny Nickeson, 49, died after their powerboat hit the inside of the outer steel breakwater at the inlet by the Black River on Lake Erie |
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| Timothy Moore, 54, and Penny Nickeson, 49, died after their powerboat hit the inside of the outer steel breakwater at the inlet by the Black River on Lake Erie |
Lorain boat crash on Black River kills 2
A powerboat with three people on board hit the inside of the outer steel breakwater at the inlet by the Black River on Lake Erie after the July 4 fireworks display in Lorain. Courtesy William Hart
By Zach Srnis, The Morning Journal
July 5, 2018
Two people are dead following a July 4 boat crash on the Black River in Lorain.
A powerboat with three people on board hit the inside of the outer steel breakwater at the inlet by the Black River on Lake Erie at a high rate of speed after the Lorain fireworks display at 10:25 p.m., according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Timothy Moore, 54, of Lorain was pronounced dead at the scene, and Penny Nickeson, 49, also of Lorain, was pronounced dead at Mercy Health Regional Medical Center in Lorain from her injuries, ODNR Lt. Chuck Stiver said during a July 5 news conference at the Lorain Port Authority, 319 Black River Lane in Lorain.
A 10-year-old boy, the grandson of Moore, was hospitalized with minor injuries and released, Stiver said.
Authorities declined to say where the victims lived.
“Our condolences go out to the family,” Stiver said. “This is a tragedy, and our first concern was the safety and well-being of the juvenile involved.”
Stiver said a witness to the event described the boat as being “up on plane” when it crashed.
“That is when the boat is going at a speed where it rises on top of the waves,” he said. “There are a wide range of speeds that fall in that category, and our investigator will determine the speed as the investigation continues. It is also too early to determine the cause of the crash.”
Officer Kris Nyland of the Lorain County U.S. Coast Guard, which was the first unit to respond, said they don’t believe lighting was an issue.
“We arrived on scene to find two people, who appeared unconscious, and the boat missing its bow,” Nyland said. “The lighting has been inspected and everything is working well at this time. That is something that will be checked throughout the investigation.”
Ed Favre, chief of Lorain Marine Patrol, said the wall is six feet tall and the boat struck it about a third of the way up.
“It appears the boat was heading east and struck the wall,” he said.
Stiver said they are unsure who was operating the boat.
“We don’t know who was controlling it at the time of the crash,” he said. “We found a truck and trailer, owned by Moore, near the Alabama Avenue boat launch. So, we believe the boat started from Lorain.”
Stiver said there are a few things that can contribute to obstructing viewpoints while in a boat.
“We try to educate boaters on making sure they know the area,” he said. “A good navigation system is the best way to pick up things you can’t see.”
Stiver said the investigation is a several week process.
“Our investigator will reconstruct the boat and determine the place everyone was seated during the crash,” he said. “It will also take time to find the actual cause. The juvenile will be able to help us, but we are going to wait until he is ready out of respect for him and his family.
“This matter is a joint investigation between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources along with the Lorain Marine Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and the Lorain County coroner.”
