Accidents Happen
Thursday, June 05, 2008

Accidents happen. Even on boats and Personal Water Craft. It is a part of the boating life. However, when two accidents happen on the water within two miles of each other, boaters should take this as a not so gentle reminder that the possibility for danger is present at all times when operating a boat.

During this past weekend two accidents occurred, almost simultaneously on the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers near Pittsburgh. Fortunately neither accident was fatal.

“It has happened before,” said Emil Svetahor, Region Manager for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, “But they are not usually that close together though.”

The first accident involved a capsized boat near the Mon Wharf. Five passengers were aboard a small vessel when the boat was swamped and capsized. According to published reports, a young boy became trapped under the over turned boat while his two older teenage sisters swam for the shore. The two adults aboard the small craft were able to rescue the boy and were then picked up by a nearby Good Samaritan.

The second accident occurred in the vicinity of Peggy’s Harbor on the Ohio River. According to witnesses, a pleasure craft heading down river struck a PWC throwing the rider into the water. Boaters nearby rushed to aid the injured rider and transported him to the shore where paramedics were waiting. The victim was then admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital.

“Accidents will always happen, especially when there are more boats out and a lot of traffic,” said Mr. Svetahor. However, he also pointed out several suggestions that either indirectly or directly reduce that chance of accidents.

The first suggestion is to take a safe boating class. These classes are available for a minimum fee and provide a wealth of knowledge. “Boaters need to know the rules of the road and safety equipment,” added Mr. Svetahor.

Although alcohol was not involved in either accident this past weekend, he also recommended that if boaters have alcohol in their plans, their should be a designated captain to operate the vessel.

Mr. Svetahor also recommended that boaters keep a proper lookout and proceed at appropriate speeds. “A lot of collisions occur because there is not a proper lookout. Sometimes you don’t know what other boats are going to do.”

Nobody wants to see a fellow boater get into an accident. Hopefully we call all learn from the events of this pass weekend so that the remainder of summer will be a safe one for all that use the local waterways.

Submitted by: Terry Grantz

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