Boat rolls over, operator dies
March 28, 2012
In Putnam County, Florida, there was a fatal airboat accident on Tuesday morning on the Rodman Reservoir, reports News 4 Jax.
The 64-year-old operator of the vessel died in the accident. A 51-year-old man, who was visiting from New York, suffered minor injuries. He was taken to Putnam Community Medical Center in Palatka.
The two men had planned to go fishing. At about 8:30 a.m. after the men launched an airboat at the Orange Springs boat ramp, the accident occurred.
After traveling about a half-mile into the reservoir, the airboat took a sharp right turn and rolled over. The men were thrown into the water.
The New York man was wearing a life jacket and held on to the other man, using a cooler to help him hold his friend above the water while they both yelled for help.
Someone in a canoe heard them and paddled out to help. The New York man clung to the canoe and to his friend as the canoeist paddled toward shore.
As they neared shore, a pontoon boat arrived, and the occupants put the men onto their boat and took them to shore.
The operator was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy will be performed.
Law enforcement officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are still attempting to locate the airboat.
The South-Florida boat accident lawyers at Steinger, Iscoe & Greene extend our condolences to the family and friends of the man who died.
