Boat crash at 2:00am

[rndn]

This accident just happened and is a real shame. 3 people died and a fourth, the driver, is in critical condition. They will check to see if alcohol played a factor in the crash, but a high speed run at 2:00am?? I've boated the area many times and the pier has a light on the end of it, so I don't know why they didn't see it.
I thought I'd share this in the hopes that it is a real deadly reminder that boating is a dangerous activity and care should always be taken. Also, whether or not alcohol played a factor in this crash, boating and alcohol just don't mix.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080628/NEWS01/80628001/-1/NEWSFRONT

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Tragic.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Pretty sad and, unfortunately, very common. I see boaters in my area running too fast at night all of the time. I even see unlighted "jet fleas" running at very high speeds between the launch an the "camps" (cabins built in the marshes along the bayous) several miles down the bayou that I frequent the most. Since many of these trips are beer runs to a couple of convenience stores within walking distance of the head of the bayou, you can imagine the condition that a lot of the drivers are in.

Considering that these bayous are winding canals with all sorts of obstacles along the shoreline and in the water, doing such a thing is pretty much nuts. South Louisiana bayous are notorious for having hidden obstructions resulting from fallen trees, oil field pipelines, sunken boats, etc. Since Hurricane Katrina, this has been even worse, with trees, boats, refrigerators, pieces of houses, and sorts of other things still being cleaned up.

We even have crosses along our bayous, much like you see on roadways every where else. Sometimes the victim(s) were lost to something that would classify as a pure accident, but more often, it turns out that someone was doing something very dumb. With apologies in advance for possibly being a little insensitive, I call them "stupid sticks," because losing your life as a result of being a dumba** sure is stupid.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Nothing good ever happens at 2 AM.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

failure to boat to the conditions, and not knowing the water you are boating in. tragic, but very common. especailly here in Florida.

 

[JB]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Too often stupid is a capital offense. That includes riding with stupid.

 

[rebars1]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Very sad.

At night lights on the end of a pier can be difficult to see if there are a lot of bright lights on shore behind it. Even so, there is no reason for the high speed in a no wake zone.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Too often stupid is a capital offense.

Couldn't have said it better - in fact, there's so much truth in that statement that you ought to make it a "sticky!"

 

[Viking77]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

What a shame! Were they reader to meet their maker?
What do we need more of, Shore and Harbor Patrol?

 

[rolmops]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

I know that place well and the single green light at the end of this 800 foot pier can very easily be mistaken for a buoy marking a channel.
Until a few years ago there were lights on that pier all the way to the end,then a few ago heavy ice tore of all the lights and they were never replaced.Just 3 years ago there was another fatal accident there although in that one alcohol was involved.
In NY we pay a lot for boater registration,but we get very little service in return.

 

[first boat]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

Nothing good ever happens at 2 AM.

There is many a flounder gigged after 2am. The guy I was with had gigged those waters for 30 years and still spot lighted everything.

 

[Xandre]

Re: Boat crash at 2:00am

I read in the paper that people on the boat had only just met that same night. That could mean nothing but it does make it a little mysterious.