The Seattle PI is reporting:
Woman dies in Lake Washington boating accident
A 37-year-old woman suffered a head injury and died Saturday evening after a motorboat hit the sailboat she was on in Lake Washington, officials reported.
Investigators believe she was thrown during the accident, which occurred around 8:40 p.m. in an area close to Seward Park. On land, Seattle firefighters were dispatched to the 4500 block of Lake Washington Boulevard South.
The Seattle Police Department's Harbor Patrol and other emergency crews arrived and learned that the woman was a sailboat passenger and a 17-year-old boy was driving the motorboat.Witnesses have told investigators that the motorboat was traveling at a "pretty high rate" of speed, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said.
Investigators believe the motorboat hit the sailboat in its stern and might have gone over it, Witt added.
You can find the full Seattle PI post by Brad Wong, here.
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4 comments:
Indeed, it was a "right of way accident", but that doesn't quite capture what seems to have happened. I live and paddle near the location in question, and I frequently see powerboats at dusk or nighttime making 30+ knots across the lake when they couldn't possibly see or avoid other boats or obstructions. That is what happened here, at least according to one observer I talked to. This accident has been waiting to happen for quite some time--I am so saddened that it had to result in a fatality.
I teach sailing right next door to where it happened. It was inevitable. Very little police presence, reckless power boaters, vulnerable boats...
Did the sailboat have navigation lights?
I live on the lake near Kirkland. Its a mad house on the weekends. Many adults drive like the 17 year old. It just crazy out here. I ask some people if they know if they should follow Inland rules or International rules of the road when on the lake. Many boaters think its in land waters, when in fact it's International rules apply. I also her people say "Im not a captain so I don't have to follow your stupid rules!" I laugh when I hear that.
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