12 Injured in Cheat Lake Boating Accident

This past Memorial Day holiday ended in a tragic way for 12 boaters on Cheat Lake, West Virginia.

Authorities investigating the accident say, the cause of the 23- foot ski boat crash still has not been uncovered. The large open bow ski boat belonged to a college freshman, according to the local marina owner, Barry Frey. The Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jason Christopher stated the open boat ran into an embankment and trees, at about 9 pm on Monday night. Frey helped with the rescue. He says the group of twelve were all friends, out enjoying the lake over Memorial Day weekend. Three people were critically injured in the crash and two were severely injured. Seven of the other victims on the boat were wounded with moderate to minor injuries. All of the twelve members on the boat were taken to local hospitals.

“There seemed to be some very serious injuries,” said Frey. A few of the victims, at least three, were taken away by medical helicopter. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Captain Bill Persinger is involved in the investigation of this terrible boating accident. According to Persinger, investigators have not yet determined whether anyone else was aboard the boat at the time of the accident. Persinger describes the 23-foot ski boat as heavily damaged. The Division of Natural Resources is still investigating the accident, and Persinger states that the cause has yet to be determined. Investigators state that they will interview each individual member that was on the boat, in order to try to piece together what happened, and how this accident occurred. They expect it to be a long investigation.

The cause of the crash could have been the result of many things. Causes of boating accidents can happen from a wave, mechanical issues with the boat, negligent driving, hitting another boats wake, or if the boat hits a rock, submerged object, or land. If the owner or driver of the boat failed to act with reasonable care, it is determined as negligence. If you are injured on a motorboat or a sailboat due to negligent driving, you must have evidence that your injury resulted because of someone else’s negligence, in order to recover damages from that person. Many boat crashes occurring in the evening are due to lack of visibility, leading to the boat hitting another boat, wake, or rock, object, or land. The operator’s liability for a collision with a fixed object depends on the circumstances. An operator with a GPS, and traveling slowly and cautiously, that hits a rock, or object, will not be found negligent. However, if the operator is speeding through dense fog, or unlit areas without GPS, and runs into a jetty, the operator can be deemed as negligent. If you are injured by a negligent driver, you are entitled to damages. These damages may include the reasonable value of your medical bills, lost earnings and earnings capacity, and pain and suffering.

Sources:

https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/05/26/12-people-injured-in-boating-accident-on-cheat-lake/