airboat accident

[mwood7800]

Palm Beach County deputies involved in two separate airboat accidents

STAFF REPORT
Posted May 17 2006


Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies were involved in two separate airboat crashes on Tuesday, officials said.

The deputies, part of the Sheriff's Office's marine unit, were participating in a training exercise in the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area west of the Bee Line Highway and Northlake Boulevard when they hit something in the water, sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.



LocalLinks

None of the men were thrown overboard but sheriff's Sgt. Larry Gamage was taken to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center with minor injuries after the 10:45 a.m. crash, Barbera said.

Sheriff's Sgts. Dan Burrows and Terry Marvin and sheriff's Deputy Michael Collister, also suffered minor injuries but were not hospitalized.

The deputies then crashed a second time about 12:30 p.m. when they were headed to a dock about 1/4 mile south of the first accident site, said Dani Moschella, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman.

Deputies did not slow down and drove into the back of a West Palm Beach police airboat that went to help them after the crash, said West Palm Beach police spokesman Ted White.

Officers and deputies were not injured in the crash but the West Palm Beach police airboat suffered extensive damage, White said.

FWCC officials, who routinely investigate boating accidents, are looking into both crashes, Moschella said.

 

[Ruagatr]

Thats too doggone funny....a doubleheader....LOL. Bet noone gets a ticket either.

 

[Whitebear]

Just shows that nobody is exempt from the laws of physics. Al we can do is try to minimize the effects. It can happen to the best of us at any time.

Scotty

 

[CaneFan]

It's so nice to know that the marsh you grew up in, were unceremoniously ejected from and barred from airboat access is being used by such worthy individuals. It is thier own private playground now called "Grassy Waters Preserve". I guess some of them slept through Airboating 101 where they explain that airboats don't have brakes or reverse. What a shame, what a waste of some beautiful airboat country. We may be a society of laws but not always enough justice.

 

[jdotson]

WORD TO THE WISE!! I would use due caution when being approached by LEO on an airboat! Run them to the boat ramp and explain you were "in fear of my life" to stop. That would really go over well! LOL

 

[CaneFan]

That is really not a bad idea Jdotson. I've heard of several airboaters, and even met one at Pogey's in Okeechobee one morning, who have been seriously injured when Game Commision officers ran them over or ran into them while operating Game Commission airboats airboats.

 

[Anonymous]

After the raffle at Camp Mack a few weeks back, I walked over to the boat ramp and watched as all the airboaters were headin' out for a ride. With only one exception everybody was careful, polite, and they all got backed out and going without incident.

The one exception was a guy who had parked his boat wrong in the first place, and then blasted at least two other boats tring to get away from the area. It had Sheriff's Departmant written down the side of it.

 

[Rich Andrews]

We know a guy who was RUN OVER by a game warder while hunting out of a tube........another who sunk a boat while standing on the back in deep water. Two years ago hunting ringers in deep water one ran up on us to check for license etc, and nearly ran both of us over. We thanked him for ruining our blind we were hunting out of and told him to go learn how to drive his new toy.
And I fully agree why are they allowed to run that area?
And since it was reported will they get tickets? Be on the look out , these guys will be pulling you over some day.

Charles, remember that guy who came out to the Glades in his shiny patent leather shoes? That was a classic, a rookie in an airboat with black shiny shoes, no water and no clue.

 

[Ruagatr]

It was hysterical Rich.....this guy is standing there in parade dress with a stuck airboat, no idea where he is and doesnt want to step into the mud....LOL....Charles

 

[cntry141iq]

I was on okeechobee one time on opening night of gator season ... I was cruisin with passengers on the boat with all my lights on and with a hat light on .. when outta nowhere a FWC airboat blasted up beside me with no lights on and almost hit me except for a quick turn by me we would have collided .. he searched my boat and didn't find as much as a frog gig on it ... and when asked why he came up on me like he did he exclaimed he thought I was trying to evade him because I was a poacher, LOL I told him he was a few years too late they ruined the market when they made it legal.

They certainly do not know how to operate an airboat and if they are in a kicker boat be even more careful because they will stop you in deep water and may sink you or run into your boat and blame it on you. they never get a ticket and unless it has changed you can't hardly sue them for anything and if you do the limit of the suit is very low.

 

[Rich Andrews]

They better not get in front of my barge, it don't stop like my old grass boat did..........that's my excuse and stickin to it! You heard it here on SA.

 

[wade]

Cntry, I witnessed that very scenario on Okeechobee by the Harney pond area. We were hunting by one of those islands and was watching a guy frogging by when out of now where the law on an air boat stopped the guy. Believe me he wasn't taking his time running up to the guy either. Hit his lights 20 ft. from the cat. He never even checked us because we were in a kicker boat I guess. The man was right there and we never saw him. Sneaky little devils :shock:

 

[MJD291]

It seems there are alot of stories about "THE MAN" and his lack of airboating skills. I had mine one day while cruising down the river an FWC officer saw me and because I am an airboater I must be doing something wrong. So he decided to pass up all the kickerboats and pull me over. We were in a deep canal and I stopped and was waiting for him. When he decides to come within a few feet of my boat and circle around almost sinking my boat. I was being polite and he treated me like a skumbag. Typical FWC attitude of course. So when I got home I e-mailed his Captain about his attitude and reckless driving. His captain gave me the typical political crap excuss for his folks and that they are professionals doing their job. So hearing the story of "THE MAN" crashing his boat doesn't suprise me in the least and I find it quite amusing as well.