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| Jeffrey A. Krowchak, 57, of Ligonier was killed when his watercraft crashed on the Allegheny River near Godfrey Landing in Gilpin just after 3 p.m. |
Rough water, high speed may have combined in fatal Gilpin boat crash
Emily Balser | Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, 2:06 p.m.
Gilpin, Pa.
Investigators believe a fatal boating accident that happened Sunday in Gilpin may have been caused by rough waters.
Jeffrey A. Krowchak, 57, of Ligonier was killed when his watercraft crashed on the Allegheny River near Godfrey Landing in Gilpin just after 3 p.m.
Krowchak was transported to Allegheny Valley Hospital after being pulled from the water by other boaters who began CPR. He was pronounced dead just after 4:30 p.m.
The state Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the accident because it happened on the water.
“According to witnesses he lost control of the boat on rough water,” said Col. Corey Britcher with the commission’s law enforcement bureau.
Britcher said investigators don’t know the exact type of boat Krowchak was on because it sank, but witnesses described it as a “racing-type of watercraft.” He was the only person on board when the accident happened.
Britcher said they haven’t determined an official cause of the accident since it’s still under investigation.
An official cause of death of blunt impact injury to the head, neck and torso was released Monday by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. The manner of death is ruled as accidental.
Gilberto Medina, who lives in Florida, but vacations at Godfrey Landing in the summers, said he witnessed the entire accident from his deck.
He said there were several boats in the area creating wakes going in multiple directions and Krowchak had been traveling on the river at a high rate of speed.
“When he hit the convergence of those waves, which was just right about in front of me, his boat hit the water and went up in the air and then straight down backwards,” Medina said. “I could not believe I just saw that—almost like a rocket ship taking off.”
Medina said the other boaters on the water immediately came over to get Krowchak out of the water and called out to the people on land to call 911 because he was unresponsive.
“That boat sunk in three minutes, it went down in no time,” he said. “It was horrendous.”
Medina said he didn’t know Krowchak and it didn’t appear anyone else in the area knew him either.
Britcher cautioned other boaters who may be out on the water this summer.
“It’s very important that people know their craft and know their capabilities,” he said. “Pay attention to the water—the water’s very unforgiving, especially after all the rain we’ve had.”
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Other boaters pulled one of their own from the waters of the Allegheny River Sunday after the man's boat sunk. But it was too late.
According to TribLive.com, the distressed boater, identified as Jeffrey Krowchak, 57, of Ligonier, Pa., was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Gilpin, Pa., police Chief Lee Shumaker told TribLive.com Krowchak was the sole occupant of the watercraft, which sank near Godfrey Landing in Gilpin.
The boating accident was reported on the Allegheny just after 3 p.m. Sunday.
During the response to the accident, Armstrong County 911 dispatchers indicated the man was suffering from cardiac arrest and that CPR was in progress, TribLive.com reported.
There was no immediate word on why the boat sank.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is investigating.
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KROWCHAK, JEFFREY A.
Age 57, of Ligonier, unexpectedly on Sunday, August 05, 2018 in a boat crash.
Beloved husband of Tracy (Varlotta) Krowchak; treasured son of Carol Holick and the late Peter Krowchak; loving father of Peter, Nicolette (fiancé Brent), Alexis, Jacob, Lukas Krowchak and stepson Nicholas Legato; cherished grandfather of Alyona, Easton, and Bella; caring brother of Shelley Gialluca and the late Keith and Peter "Steve" Krowchak; also survived by many loving family members.
Jeff and Tracy developed a strong friendship in high school and reconnected after 35 years, marrying last August. Their wedding gift was their dog, Shelby, who Jeff adored.
He loved the water and boating and also was an avid hunter, fisherman, and car enthusiast. Jeff was skilled at converting resources such as wood and concrete and turning them into pieces of art.
He was a member of LABORERS' LOCAL #373 of Pittsburgh. Friends received 4 - 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9:30 until time of 10:30 funeral service at MAURICE L. KNEE, LTD. FUNERAL HOME, 7663 Saltsburg Rd. (across from S & T Bank) Plum, PA 15239.