livSadly four boaters died Monday at Bear Lake in Utah just at the start of summer. Thus, following the deadly accident, police are using it as a wake-up call for other boaters as the summer heats up. According to Ty Hunter, boating coordinator with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation the majority of Bear Lake boating deaths take place on the Idaho side.
Likewise, in 2015, one Utah boater has died who was a fisherman on Willard Bay. Furthermore, those who have died while boating on Bear Lake were wearing life jackets although the water at the time was very cold, and hypothermia may have set in causing them to drown.
Another factor of the boating deaths that may be a factor is storms. Hunter points out that although it is okay to ride out a storm, the boater must know what he or she is doing before it is attempted. Furthermore, the larger the lake such as Bear Lake, Utah Lake, the Great Salt Lake, Lake Powell, and Flaming Gorge, determines how the storm can turn bad, fast. Therefore, the safest thing to do when a storm arrises is find dry land and get out. Even more so, Hunter explains that boaters need to know about safety gear such as life jackets and throwable devices as well to stay safe. The U.S. Coast Guard recorded ten boating fatalities in Utah in 2010, eight in 2011-2012, and five in 2014. No matter what lake or body of water you boat on, safety always comes first and needs to be remembered for this upcoming summer season.
If you or a loved one were injured by another’s negligence in a boating accident, the experienced St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth would like to help you. Please contact us today for a free consultation.