Headlines
Lake St Clair Boating Accident
- Thread starter ChiefApache
- Start date
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
ChiefApache
Contributor
I will never understand why any on-line newspaper allows an article such as this to have reader comments. Many are just nasty, mean and looking to push buttons type people. Not necessary at all for any paper.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Their advertisers pay amounts based on their hits and circulation....
MattBMiller
New member
The two boats involved in this accident were rafted right behind me at the Beach Grill less than an hour before the accident happened. Very tragic. My condolences to the families. RIP.
One of the boats was being towed in Sunday morning as I idled out of the channel in front of the restaurant and through the search area. Very eerie feeling.
One of the boats was being towed in Sunday morning as I idled out of the channel in front of the restaurant and through the search area. Very eerie feeling.
ChiefApache
Contributor
I hate running at night. Just sleep on your boat and leave in the morning. It's not worth it.
Newspapaers at this point are thankful if anyone even remembers they exist. They live for this sort of drama. I think we're just a hop and a skip away from them all becoming local versions of the tabloids. They've got nowhere else to go.
MattBMiller
New member
I refuse to run at night, especially if I've had a few drinks. I'll gladly pay the $1 a foot to stay on the seawall.
ChiefApache
Contributor
ChiefApache
Contributor
I'm with you Matt. It's one thing to idle from one dock to another where we dock, but it's a whole different thing running.
Ms PatriYacht
Charter Member
Here is a little more info.
On the Lake St Clair website, someone said that they two boat owners were friends and were in a fight and racing, but this is not a fact just what someone else said.
From what Matt said about them being rafted together I was thinking they were probably friends. We have spent the night on the wall at Jacks instead of going out on the lake in the dark, especially after drinking.
By Mitch Hotts, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
A horrific collision between two power boats leaving a St. Clair Shores marina early Sunday left one boater dead and several of the survivors screaming in the dark for help as they clung to one of the wrecked vessels on Lake St. Clair.
Authorities recovered the body of 28-year-old Timothy Albert Moravcik of Chesterfield Township about 1 p.m. Sunday, approximately 12 hours after the crash took place one mile east of 10 Mile Road and Jefferson.
"It was a pretty intense collision," said Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel. "The engines of both vessels were knocked loose and found in 12 feet of water. One boat sank and the other began drifting away."
Investigators said speed and alcohol were likely a factor in the 1:30 a.m. incident.
Four of the boaters were taken to St. John Hospital in Detroit for treatment and two were treated on scene and released. Moravcik's girlfriend was the most
seriously injured and was reported to be in critical but stable condition.
According to Macomb sheriff and U.S. Coast Guard officials, Moravcik and his girlfriend were in a 22-foot Chris Craft while five friends of the couple were in a 24-foot Cheetah leaving the Jefferson Beach Marina area when the crash occurred.
It's not clear how the two boats collided or how fast each was traveling, investigators said.
For some reason, the two vessels had a violent collision, ejecting all of the occupants into the water and scattering debris about.
Moravcik, who was not wearing a life vest, likely was knocked unconscious and the remaining people were able to swim to one of the boats that was still afloat. One of them dialed 911 on a cell phone, which went to the St. Clair Shores Police Department and help was dispatched.
As Coast Guard boats and helicopters responded to the area, the boaters yelled in the darkness to attract attention and were eventually rescued. Also, several Good Samaritan boaters in the area attempted to provide assistance.
As the Macomb County Sheriff's Marine Patrol arrived, a side-scan sonar was used as part of the search effort. As daylight broke, six divers entered the lake to search for the victim's body.
Lt. Zackary Ford of the U.S. Coast Guard said divers were fortunate because the 64-degree lake water was calm and winds were light.
"From a search and rescue viewpoint, all of the agencies involved gave a great coordinated effort which helped us to locate the body of this young man relatively quickly," Ford said.
Once the body was brought ashore, the victim's parents were able to make positive identification, officials said.
The family has asked for privacy and did not wish to speak with the media.
Sunday's incident was the worst boating accident on Lake St. Clair since three people were killed in May 2008 after their power boat crashed into a 120-foot barge that was docked in the lake near the mouth of the Clinton River.
Ford said Sunday's accident underscores the need to use great caution on the waterways, especially at night.
"The big message is that unfortunate situations can pop up when you least expect it. Make sure your life jackets and equipment are functioning because terrible things can happen on the seas," Ford said.
Hackel agreed.
"Nighttime operation is much harder than daytime," he said. "Depth perception and visibility come into play in the evening. You have to be mindful of what is in the water that you may not be able to clearly see."
On the Lake St Clair website, someone said that they two boat owners were friends and were in a fight and racing, but this is not a fact just what someone else said.
From what Matt said about them being rafted together I was thinking they were probably friends. We have spent the night on the wall at Jacks instead of going out on the lake in the dark, especially after drinking.
By Mitch Hotts, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
A horrific collision between two power boats leaving a St. Clair Shores marina early Sunday left one boater dead and several of the survivors screaming in the dark for help as they clung to one of the wrecked vessels on Lake St. Clair.
Authorities recovered the body of 28-year-old Timothy Albert Moravcik of Chesterfield Township about 1 p.m. Sunday, approximately 12 hours after the crash took place one mile east of 10 Mile Road and Jefferson.
"It was a pretty intense collision," said Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel. "The engines of both vessels were knocked loose and found in 12 feet of water. One boat sank and the other began drifting away."
Investigators said speed and alcohol were likely a factor in the 1:30 a.m. incident.
Four of the boaters were taken to St. John Hospital in Detroit for treatment and two were treated on scene and released. Moravcik's girlfriend was the most
seriously injured and was reported to be in critical but stable condition.
According to Macomb sheriff and U.S. Coast Guard officials, Moravcik and his girlfriend were in a 22-foot Chris Craft while five friends of the couple were in a 24-foot Cheetah leaving the Jefferson Beach Marina area when the crash occurred.
It's not clear how the two boats collided or how fast each was traveling, investigators said.
For some reason, the two vessels had a violent collision, ejecting all of the occupants into the water and scattering debris about.
Moravcik, who was not wearing a life vest, likely was knocked unconscious and the remaining people were able to swim to one of the boats that was still afloat. One of them dialed 911 on a cell phone, which went to the St. Clair Shores Police Department and help was dispatched.
As Coast Guard boats and helicopters responded to the area, the boaters yelled in the darkness to attract attention and were eventually rescued. Also, several Good Samaritan boaters in the area attempted to provide assistance.
As the Macomb County Sheriff's Marine Patrol arrived, a side-scan sonar was used as part of the search effort. As daylight broke, six divers entered the lake to search for the victim's body.
Lt. Zackary Ford of the U.S. Coast Guard said divers were fortunate because the 64-degree lake water was calm and winds were light.
"From a search and rescue viewpoint, all of the agencies involved gave a great coordinated effort which helped us to locate the body of this young man relatively quickly," Ford said.
Once the body was brought ashore, the victim's parents were able to make positive identification, officials said.
The family has asked for privacy and did not wish to speak with the media.
Sunday's incident was the worst boating accident on Lake St. Clair since three people were killed in May 2008 after their power boat crashed into a 120-foot barge that was docked in the lake near the mouth of the Clinton River.
Ford said Sunday's accident underscores the need to use great caution on the waterways, especially at night.
"The big message is that unfortunate situations can pop up when you least expect it. Make sure your life jackets and equipment are functioning because terrible things can happen on the seas," Ford said.
Hackel agreed.
"Nighttime operation is much harder than daytime," he said. "Depth perception and visibility come into play in the evening. You have to be mindful of what is in the water that you may not be able to clearly see."
MattBMiller
New member
I heard they were fighting as well. I didn't see it first hand and didnt' want to start rumors, but another boater that was there mentioned it to me.
ChiefApache
Contributor
Ahhh, the joys of drinking........very sad if so.
RLJ676
New member
This is a very sad story to start the summer.
Do most of the on the water bars allow this, as it seems like the best idea to me?
Do most of the on the water bars allow this, as it seems like the best idea to me?
MattBMiller
New member
This is a very sad story to start the summer.
Do most of the on the water bars allow this, as it seems like the best idea to me?
Most places do. For some reason The Beach Grill does not. I stay on the wall at Jacks quite a bit, they usually don't even charge.
RLJ676
New member
I didn't think Beach Grill did, but wasn't sure. I know I've seen them toss the boats out after the white party, but wasn't sure on normal days. Glad to hear the others are more reasonable. Honestly, it seems like you open up to liabilities by telling someone who's had to much they can't stay tied up?
MattBMiller
New member
They told us we ahd to leave that night, that's why I went back over to Jacks to stay. I'll remember that next time I decide where I'm spending my money.
RLJ676
New member
I'm with you on that.
These bars should definitely see accidents like this and realize keeping people at the docks is the right thing to do. Not saying these guys would have tried to overnight there, but the option should be there.
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