Boating Accidents Are Wake-up Call

National Safe Boating Week ended on Memorial Day, but not without the deaths of two rafters on eastern Oregon rivers. And further west, two boat loads of anglers had luck and the U.S. Coast Guard on their side when their boats capsized or sank.

"This is a risky time of year for boaters," said Paul Donheffner, director of the Oregon State Marine Board. "People want to get out on the water, but conditions can be dangerous. This last week is a reminder for people to be extremely cautious and make sure they are fully prepared if the worst happens."

The first accident occurred Friday, May 19, 38 miles off shore of Newport within site of some 80 recreational boats fishing for halibut. A 26 foot fishing boat began taking on water, forcing the four occupants to quickly don life jackets and abandon ship as it literally sank beneath them. According to Coast Guard reports, three climbed onto another fishing boat. The fourth person jumped in the water and was picked up by a 44 foot Coast Guard vessel.

Another accident occurred Sunday, May 28, when a 22 foot fishing boat with six people aboard capsized while attempting to cross the Rogue River Bar. The bar was closed to vessels 21 feet and under, according to U.S. Coast Guard reports. Coast Guard personnel witnessed the capsizing and immediately deployed a rescue boat and called in a Coast Guard helicopter, which happened to be about one minute from the scene. An 11 year-old youth was the only person aboard wearing a life jacket.

Though no one died in the accident, the outcome could have been different had a helicopter not been in the vicinity and a rescue boat quickly deployed. "In the ocean, life jackets buy you critical time," said Donheffner. "Hypothermia sets in quickly, making it hard to rescue yourself. We’ve had several potentially serious accidents this spring where youths have been wearing their life jackets and it probably made the difference. Adults should take a lesson and wear them as well." Under Oregon law, all youths 12 and younger must wear an appropriately sized life vest when in a boat underway.

East of the Cascades, a rafter died Monday, May 29, while rafting down the Klamath River Canyon. The victim was part of a guided rafting trip and was wearing safety equipment when his raft overturned. According to press reports, he had a life vest, helmet and wet suit, but was probably overwhelmed by strong current and class-five rapids.

At about the same time on Monday, a family overturned their raft on a swift stretch of the lower Imnaha River in Wallowa County. An eight-year old girl, who was wearing a life jacket, became entangled in the raft and drowned before being rescued.

"Many things combine to create these tragedies," said Donheffner. "The remote location, low water temperature, high river flows, weather, the boat operator’s skills – all of that comes in to play. Know your skills, wear your life jacket and be prepared. It won’t prevent every tragedy, but it will greatly increase your odds of survival."

The two latest fatalities brings the total number for Oregon this year to three. The first fatality of the year occurred on the Columbia River near Umatilla when a barge apparently destroyed a recreational boat at anchor at night. In 1999, 16 boating related fatalities were reported. Of the 16, 14 were not wearing life jackets.