A 15 year old kayaker was found face-down in the water of American Lake, about 30 miles south of Seattle, and is in critical condition at Madigan Army Hospital on the Fort Lewis Army Base. The boy's kayak was found with a hole in it and his paddle was cut in two. Witnesses who live around the lake have said that they saw a "Baylilner" or "Reinell" type power boat weaving around on the lake all day. The incident occured March 2nd. A link to the article on Seattle's KING tv station is here: http://www.king5.com/localnews/south/stories/NW_030209WAB-kayak-hit-and-run-SW.1b024601.html An interesting addition to the story is that the physician who treated the boy at the scene was later arrested for assaulting the driver of a car who cut him off on the Tacoma Narrows bridge after the kayak incident. The physician stated that he was upset after treating the boy. Here is a link to that story: http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/644632.html There may be security camera videos of the incident as many home owners have said that they had cameras pointed out at the lake. So far the operator of the powerboat has not come forward and the boat has not been found. Witnesses said that the boat still had its mooring covers on. I suppose that cold weather does have one good attribute: fewer powerboaters. As you paddle please remember than many recreational boaters think that drinking and boating go together. Paddle defensively, paddle with all your senses alert (including hearing), and limit your exposure to the areas of water where powerboats are operating at high speeds. In other words, the margins are your friends. Caveat paddler. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Craig b In past years have had similar experience on Lake Berryessa, actually a reservoir. Not always a Bayliner but similar, powerful and fast boats that could easily be on top of us in minutes. This time of year the boats get up enough speed and rise up on top of the water and move. The lookout needs to use both eyes and ears. We have found it safer to paddle along the shore line. B Being defensive is practical. B Safe boating, john Santa Rosa, CA --- On Wed, 3/4/09, Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: ...snip ... In other words, the margins are your friends. Caveat paddler. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM, John H <seajohnkayak_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > Craig > > In past years have had similar experience on Lake Berryessa, actually a > reservoir. Not always a Bayliner but similar, powerful and fast boats that > could easily be on top of us in minutes. > Lake Berryessa is infamous for fast powerboats... even up here. I remember reading a boating guide for northern Cal that cautioned boaters about fast boating on that lake. You're a braver man than I am. :) Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Some things make you weep with helpless frustration and a towering rage. Craig Jungers wrote: > A 15 year old kayaker was found face-down in the water of American Lake, > about 30 miles south of Seattle, and is in critical condition at Madigan > Army Hospital on the Fort Lewis Army Base. The boy's kayak was found with a > hole in it and his paddle was cut in two. Witnesses who live around the lake > have said that they saw a "Baylilner" or "Reinell" type power boat weaving > around on the lake all day. The incident occured March 2nd. A link to the > article on Seattle's KING tv station is here: > http://www.king5.com/localnews/south/stories/NW_030209WAB-kayak-hit-and-run-SW.1b024601.html > I suppose that cold weather does have one good attribute: fewer > powerboaters. As you paddle please remember than many recreational boaters > think that drinking and boating go together. Paddle defensively, paddle with > all your senses alert (including hearing), and limit your exposure to the > areas of water where powerboats are operating at high speeds. In other > words, the margins are your friends. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've tried in the past to get my two teenaged nieces interested in kayaking. I've always wondered why kayaking seems so relegated to old men! It just makes this story that much sadder to have this happen to someone so young. Mark -----Original Message----- Some things make you weep with helpless frustration and a towering rage. Craig Jungers wrote: > A 15 year old kayaker was found face-down in the water of American Lake, > about 30 miles south of Seattle, and is in critical condition at Madigan > Army Hospital on the Fort Lewis Army Base. The boy's kayak was found with a > hole in it and his paddle was cut in two. Witnesses who live around the lake > have said that they saw a "Baylilner" or "Reinell" type power boat weaving > around on the lake all day. The incident occured March 2nd. A link to the > article on Seattle's KING tv station is here: > http://www.king5.com/localnews/south/stories/NW_030209WAB-kayak-hit-and-run- SW.1b024601.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This is an update to the story. The boy remains in critical condition. No one knows exactly what happened. There is now a $1000 reward for information leading to the solution of the mystery. This link gives the name of the victim along with a photo and a photo of his kayak (a small SOT): http://www.komonews.com/news/local/40517582.html Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
And when they do catch the SOB, I hope they burn him or her. Depraved Indifference may be grounds for attempted manslaughter, even outside of the actual circumstances that caused the collision. Leaving the scene and failing to render assistance would qualify. The same type of charges have been brought against drivers of vehicles who hit bicyclists and leave the scene...and here in Iowa, that often means on stretches of rural roads with an injured person dumped into a ditch by impact. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Here is the latest report on the boy's condition. Not much has changed. He had five surgeries, brain swelling, and remains unconscious. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/643669.html Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Craig, et al - In you best guess estimate ... assuming speed was "fast" what would be affect of an the impact with a "sit-on-top" kayak have on the hull of a "bayliner" ? Visible damage? Structural damage? Inquiring minds and all that... john santa rosa, ca --- On Thu, 3/5/09, Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] 15 year old kayaker left face-down in the water after hit-and-run boating accident To: "PaddleWise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009, 10:16 AM This is an update to the story. The boy remains in critical condition. No one knows exactly what happened. There is now a $1000 reward for information leading to the solution of the mystery. This link gives the name of the victim along with a photo and a photo of his kayak (a small SOT): http://www.komonews.com/news/local/40517582.html Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 11:01 AM, John H <seajohnkayak_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > Craig, et al - > In you best guess estimate ... assuming speed was "fast" what would be > affect > of an the impact with a "sit-on-top" kayak have on the hull of a "bayliner" > ? > Visible damage? Structural damage? > > Inquiring minds and all that... > > This is an excellent question. The SOT (which appears to be plastic not f/g) had a hole in it and the boy's head had a 3-inch piece of the skull broken. I'm not a structural engineer or a naval architect so this is pure speculation. A plastic kayak is much more flexible than the fiberglass hull of a Bayliner so it's possible that the combination of that flex, the fact that the vee of a powerboat's bow is very strong, and the cushioning effect of water might result in very little visible damage to the powerboat itself. Especially if the powerboat hit the kayak straight on. These little speedboats often hit logs and other debris and as long as the debris isn't vertical (so the boat's hull is impaled on it) there is often no damage at all; they just ride up onto the obstruction. And I've had plastic w/w kayaks fly off the room of an SUV at 50mph and survive with little more than deep scratches. The propeller and its associated gear might be another matter, however. The hole in the kayak could have been done by the prop on the powerboat which could slice into the plastic and excise a chunk (as opposed to simple collision damage). I'd expect to see damage on the lower section of the outdrive (or outboard) and bent prop blades. If it's a pure inboard with prop shaft on struts I'd expect to see some significant damage to the shaft struts and shaft. But given the nature of a plastic kayak there might be little obvious damage to the powerboat. And lots of small powerboats run around with bent propeller blades and nicks in the outdrive. If the operator of the powerboat tried to avoid the collision at the last minute and turned away or hit the kayak at a slant, then there could be some damage to the forward hull near the bow including penetration. If I were the cops in that area I'd be looking for a vehicle towing a boat (not that many at this time of year) away from American Lake and using all the traffic cams available. I would also be carefully inspecting all the vessels moored or stored near the area. And trying to find anyone who might have launched there that day. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
probably no damage beyond a scuff mark. On Mar 5, 2009, at 2:01 PM, John H wrote: > Craig, et al - > In you best guess estimate ... assuming speed was "fast" what would > be affect > of an the impact with a "sit-on-top" kayak have on the hull of a > "bayliner" ? > Visible damage? Structural damage? > Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 54 South Rd Groton, CT 06340 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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