Holidays Tend to Result in Multiple Boating Accidents and Deaths

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) August 19, 2015 – Never are the highways and byways of Texas more crowded with traffic than on a long weekend. When the weather is nice, boating is a pleasurable pastime, but it may become a deadly one.

The July 4th long weekend ended with Texas Game Wardens investigating several fatalities involving watercraft accidents. Watercrafts are designed to be ridden on the water and may be anything ranging from a canoe to a jet ski.

Late that Saturday, a Marble Falls Police Department marine safety patrol boat was patrolling the area when James Fry, 41, ran into the vessel. The police captain onboard sustained serious injuries. The boat driver was arrested with intoxication assault charges, a third-degree felony that may be elevated to a second-degree felony, as the captain was on duty at the time of the accident.

Houston County logged four fatalities involving a rented canoe. It is unclear what happened in that incident other than the canoe the family was in capsized. Three of the victims were recovered late that Sunday afternoon, and the game wardens were unable to recover the fourth victim until Monday. Witnesses told police they saw the family in the canoe and noted that the child was wearing a life preserver.

When the four did not return to the marina, a search located them shortly after it was launched. Three of the four preservers were floating on the water. The fourth was found on the child, but police suspect it was not fitted properly.

A five-year-old girl also died on the July 4th long weekend on Lake Travis, near Austin. Two sisters were being towed behind a boat while they rode on a tube hooked to a metal ski pole that was hooked into the boat by another metal pole. Investigators say a large wave hit the boat, detaching the ski pole, which hit the five-year-old in the back of the head. Although she was airlifted to Dell Children’s Medical Center, she was pronounced dead on arrival.

It was a busy weekend that also saw law enforcement dealing with nine boating accidents, nine search and rescues events, multiple felony arrests and the recovery of two stolen boats. 63 arrests were made for boating while under the influence.

“Yes, boating can be fun, but like driving a car, you need to drive responsibly. Drinking and driving a boat is likely to result in an accident. Not being properly prepared for a trip on a watercraft may also put your life at risk. If you don’t know what you are doing, have no training and no experience, stay on the shore,” said Austin personal injury attorney Bobby Lee, who has experience dealing with watercraft accidents. “If you have been in a boating accident, we are able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.”

To learn more, visit http://www.lgrlawfirm.com

Lee, Gober & Reyna
11940 Jollyville Road #220-S
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512.478.8080

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