I think someone should approach the owners about additional lighting.
That's logical based on all the data. I think especially for snowmobiles.
Of course, they may do that without being asked. I don't know who they are, but I doubt they want to keep experiencing tragedies on their dock. I don't think they are to blame, but I can only imagine they still feel awful. Who wouldn't?
Based on my own countless trips up and down the river over the years, even coming back to a dock back there at night a lot, I would say 99.99% of boats never go on that side of the river. Anyone who has seen the river empty out (most of us) knows that there might be 5-6 feet of water in the channel, but still only have 1 foot where that dock is, far from the natural and navigational channel. There is almost no development on that side for this reason.
But the skipper who died in this crash was running a jet boat, so obviously he had little concern for water levels compared to outdrive and rudder people.
Having had time to talk to people from their club, I know that all four on the boat are very much cared about, and it is quite a shock and loss.
There was an update on conditions in the Monroe Evening News:
ERIE TOWNSHIP — One man who was in the fatal boating accident in the Ottawa River last week remains in critical condition while the condition of a second passenger apparently has improved.
John Nusbaum, 43, of Toledo was listed in critical condition in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, while Doug Hertz, 50, also of Toledo, was listed in serious condition in the Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus.
They were involved in an Aug. 28 boating accident that claimed the life of Thomas Duquette II, 44, of Holland, Ohio. He was the operator of the 17-foot speedboat that slammed into a dock extending out into the river near the Lost Peninsula.
A third passenger, a woman, ducked at the last second and avoided injury, according to the Erie Township Police Department.
