ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 8, 1996 TAG: 9604090112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Bill Cochran
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
You go boating to have a good time, to feel the warmth of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair and maybe the tug of a bass on the end of your line.
It is a fun sport, a safe sport, and you think about living, not dying. But like any outdoor pursuit, boating is not without an element of risk. That risk intensifies in April, when bright, warm days attract boaters to Virginia's streams and impoundments.
Last year, 23 pleasure-boating fatalities were reported to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Risk or not, that is an unacceptable number. You have to believe several of the victims would be around to enjoy another April outing if they had been wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) or if they hadn't mixed alcohol with outdoor fun.
What follows is a brief description of several of the accidents from the department's files. In simple, stark words they provide lessons to be learned - hard lessons, sad lessons:
April 8, sediment pond in Wise County: The victim was fishing in an inflatable boat when the main air chamber burst or was torn, throwing him overboard. He was not wearing a PFD.
April 21, Machipongo River in Accomack County: A passenger fell overboard while attempting to put on a coat. The operator of the boat was unable to retrieve the victim, who was not wearing a PFD.
April 23, Russell Fork River, Dickenson County: Kayakers had floated a half-mile downstream when one of them got his craft lodged in the crack of a large boulder. Friends threw him a rope, but his kayak capsized and washed under the boulder. Officials reported it remained there for about 20 minutes before surfacing. The victim was wearing a PFD.
May 29, James River, Surry County: The victim, who was not wearing a PFD, was standing or leaning on the side of the boat and fell overboard.
May 31, Piankatank River, Middlesex: While boating alone, the victim fell overboard. He wasn't wearing a PFD.
July 2, Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford County: A boat was pulling a water-skier, who swung to starboard and hit a dock.
July 9, Shenandoah River, Page County: A canoeist fell overboard going through rapids. The victim, who was unable to swim, wasn't wearing a PFD.
July 14, Lake Anna, Louisa County: A boat operator made a sharp turn, throwing himself and two passengers overboard. Two died. Neither wore a PFD, and investigators said alcohol was involved.
July 25, private pond in Louisa County: A boat began taking on water and capsized before the operator could reach shore. A passenger fell overboard and disappeared. The victim was not wearing a PFD, and investigators said alcohol was involved.
July 25, Back Creek, Yorktown: The victim was operating a personal watercraft after legal hours and doing so in a reckless manner, according to investigators. The craft had been purchased earlier in the day. It was the first time the victim had driven a personal watercraft.
Aug. 20, James River, Newport News: The river became very rough and capsized a fishing boat, tossing its five occupants into the water. Only two PFDs were available. Three boaters were rescued; two were drowned. Neither victim had a PFD.
Aug. 28, James River, Chesterfield County: The operator of a 17-foot bass boat powered by a 120-horsepower outboard lost control. The boat went into a hard turn, tossing a passenger overboard. The victim was hit by the propeller.
Sept. 30, Hampton Roads, Suffolk: Two fishermen were expected back before sunset, but didn't make it. Their boat was found capsized in 3 feet of water. Both fisherman were found dead. One was wearing a PFD, the other was not.
Oct. 21, Kerr Lake, Mecklenburg County: A boater and passenger were returning to dock when violent weather struck. The boat motor died and the craft began taking on water, causing it to sink. The operator survived, but the passenger, who was not wearing a PFD, died.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB