Milwaukee Break Wall Crash

Escapade

Escapade

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 10, 2007
1,262
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
44 Sundancer
Engines
QSC500
Late Friday Night. Friends were headed home to their dock after a nice evening and dinner. They cruised slowly through the inner harbor surrounded by a "break wall". As they approached the marina entrance. This vessel passed by at speeds between 35-40MPH in the dark. They saaw this vessel hit and fly high into the air. Our friends quickly launched their dinghy off the davits and removed the two adult males and brought them to the first responders who were on their way to the scene. The two men were admitted to a local hospital. Speed and alcohol were factors. We took these pics at first light. A side note: We heard the captain had owned this vessel just two weeks.I suspect we will hear a crack or two about the vessels name on this one. Mike

MKE Crash 10-7 2.jpgMKE Crash 10-7 3.jpgMKE Crash 10-7 1.jpg
 
Glad there Okay, but have no sympathy and hope the insurance doesn't pay...On a side note, He almost made it to the other side..lol. Probably would have sunk though.. And look at the name on the back...Fit's him well.
 
Wow...they are lucky that it wasn't much worse. That's exactly what killed the Marlin's pitcher, Jose Fernandez and his two friends.

Even if they find that alcohol or drugs weren't involved, inexperience and speed are deadly enough all on their own.
 
Went for the Gator McKlusky and FAILED !!!!! Only good ole boys should try that one.
 
Ouch, surprised there wasn't much more damage! Looks like it went up and over for the most part.
 
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This justifies the Coast Guard over enforcement actions in our area. Just absurd, careless and life threatening behavior. They deserve whatever punishment they receive. Reflects poorly on the entire boating community...
 
Looks like a Regal 32'. Doing a documented vessel search, it's a 2014. What a shame.
 
This is idiotic, inexperienced boating. Thankfully they didn't hit another boat.
I'm also guessing his radar wasn't on or he didn't watch it because it likely would have seen the break wall if aimed correctly.
 
I've noticed a trend with boating accidents like this. It's seems that there is very little reported in the aftermath. Lots of speculation, lots of suspicion initially, but there's just no follow-up information to be found. What did the tox reports show? Were substances involved? I Google'd the Fernandez accident and found a LA Times story saying that the reports came back but the cops won't release the results.

There were two boating accidents in our area of NJ this summer that resulted in deaths, and I couldn't find out anything about these accidents, other than the who, what, when and how...sometimes you get a "why" but then it stops.
 
rondds said:
I've noticed a trend with boating accidents like this. It's seems that there is very little reported in the aftermath. Lots of speculation, lots of suspicion initially, but there's just no follow-up information to be found. What did the tox reports show? Were substances involved? I Google'd the Fernandez accident and found a LA Times story saying that the reports came back but the cops won't release the results.

There were two boating accidents in our area of NJ this summer that resulted in deaths, and I couldn't find out anything about these accidents, other than the who, what, when and how...sometimes you get a "why" but then it stops.
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As someone who used to work in the media, only the incident makes the news. Unless a press release is issued 2-3 months later when the investigation is complete, you won't see a follow up.

The USCG and police should both have reports for any on water accident. Police reports are public record and many departments require you to stop by their records division to get a copy. Sometimes they are redacted. If you really want to know you can also file a FOIA request.

We had an incident in DC a couple of years ago where a DC Police Harbor Patrol officer recklessly operated a police boat, hit and sunk another boat. He was re-assigned, but there was little follow up even though the incident was caught on camera and played all over the news.
 
My wife does have more photos showing open intoxicants at the helm station. Amazing to see how a wine bottle survived the crash at the dash. I’ll be honest with you. Friday night we were out on a 45 Catalina and came in around 10:15. It was so dark the lights of Milwaukee could even trick us moving at 4 knots. The radar and GPS overlay were comforting to say the least. Liquid courage nearly took their lives and could have taken others. The boat balancing on the rocks the sheriffs had the government pier closed and Coast Guard sat out all night Saturday / Sun to curtail any shenanigans. It was removed today via barge and crane. If anything more comes of it will post back. Mike
 
WDCboater said:
We had an incident in DC a couple of years ago where a DC Police Harbor Patrol officer recklessly operated a police boat, hit and sunk another boat. He was re-assigned, but there was little follow up even though the incident was caught on camera and played all over the news.
Click to expand...

"We have investigated ourselves and found we have done nothing wrong."
 
WDCboater said:
As someone who used to work in the media, only the incident makes the news. Unless a press release is issued 2-3 months later when the investigation is complete, you won't see a follow up.

The USCG and police should both have reports for any on water accident. Police reports are public record and many departments require you to stop by their records division to get a copy. Sometimes they are redacted. If you really want to know you can also file a FOIA request.

We had an incident in DC a couple of years ago where a DC Police Harbor Patrol officer recklessly operated a police boat, hit and sunk another boat. He was re-assigned, but there was little follow up even though the incident was caught on camera and played all over the news.
Click to expand...

Ryan,

I was wondering what happened with that. He blasted that boat at the Georgetown wall really hard!
 
Mikemapva said:
Ryan,

I was wondering what happened with that. He blasted that boat at the Georgetown wall really hard!
Click to expand...

He did! The only update I saw said that the officer was disciplined and reassigned. That's about it.

The National Potomac Yacht Club posted a picture of the SR that was sunk after it made it back to Columbia Island. It had a massive hole in the port side near the stern and you could see where the police boat's prop tore the fiberglass to shreds.
 
rondds said:
I've noticed a trend with boating accidents like this. It's seems that there is very little reported in the aftermath. Lots of speculation, lots of suspicion initially, but there's just no follow-up information to be found. What did the tox reports show? Were substances involved? I Google'd the Fernandez accident and found a LA Times story saying that the reports came back but the cops won't release the results.
Click to expand...



They sent it to the FWC and they are supposed to release the results after their investigation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Soon to be a low hour 2014 32' regal with 'fresh bottom paint' on boat trader :)

Hard to believe that thing ended staying upright after slamming into the rocks, guys were lucky..
 
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