ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, March 24, 1997                 TAG: 9703240105
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LAPLATA, MD.

ALEXANDRIA MAN DIES AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES ON POTOMAC

A Virginia man died Saturday after being swept from the hull of his capsized fishing boat by 4-foot waves on the Potomac River, authorities said. His 13-year-old son survived with minor injuries.

Herman F. Blankenship, 60, of Alexandria was fishing near Mattawoman Creek in Charles County when the 16-foot outboard was swamped by the rough seas, said Richard McIntire, spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources Police.

Blankenship and his son, Thomas Blankenship of Locust Grove, Va., stayed with the overturned boat, sitting on its hull, McIntire said. But the elder Blankenship was not able to recover when a wave knocked him into the river, McIntire said.

McIntire said the father and son had left Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Va., about noon Saturday. About 45 minutes later, the boat sank in the 40-degree water.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   30 lines
KEYWORDS: FATALITY