A fourth person has died after two seperate boat crashes on Lake Murray near Columbia. The first crash occured between 10 pm and 11pm on Saturday.While everyone enjoys a nice day out on the water, maybe cruising around, doing some fishing or just spending time with friends, South Carolina Wrongful Death Attorneys remind you that it is important to remember the potential hazards that come with operation of watercraft.
The first crash occured while boaters were operating at night and killed two women. The second crash occured approximately 30 minutes later, and involved a collision between a 14- foot fishing boat and a 23- foot craft. The collision killed the 23 year old driver of the fishing boat. A second man on the boat died Monday at Palmetto Health Richland.
While South Carolina boating accidents are common, the operation of watercraft after sunset greatly increases the chances of a potential incident. The Coast Guard advocates the proper use of safety devices and reminds all boaters to never operate a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol.
Sources: The Post and Courier, “Boat crashes claim fourth victim”, May 4th, 2010
The United States Coast Guard, Boating Safety Division