Posted on 07/13/2009 3:27:50 PM PDT by Onerom99
LOCK HAVEN - As rumors of alcohol use and speeding boats abound, an investigation into a deadly boat crash Friday evening on the Susquehanna River here continues.
Valerie Heidt, 12, of Hublersburg, was pronounced dead by Clinton County Coroner Donald G. Walker at the scene of the horrific crash of two ski boats. Walker said an autopsy on Saturday showed the youngster died of blunt force trauma.
And early today The Express learned that another person was seriously injured in the crash. Barbara Hummer, a passenger in the boat driven by John Englert of Mill Hall, was taken to Lock Haven Hospital on Saturday and flown by Lifeflight to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where she was reported in serious condition this morning.
The collision of the two boats near the Woodward Township side of the river, across from Hanna Park, has sparked an intensive investigation by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Although the terrible accident has become the talk of the town, there are still many unanswered questions, Waterways Conservation Officer Tom Nunnamacher said.
And it could take some time until the investigation is completed.
"We're taking statements and gathering information and evidence to form a comprehensive report. We've got a lot of people to talk to," Nunnamacher said Sunday.
Clinton County District Attorney Mike Salisbury is also involved in the probe.
"An investigation has commenced and will continue ... charges will be filed if and when the investigation is complete," Salisbury said.
Nunnamacher confirmed there were five people in a boat operated by Englert. The other boat, Nunnamacher said, was operated by Bart Garlick of Lock Haven.
Garlick had three passengers - Valerie and two young boys - and was pulling a skier, he said.
"Boat one (driven by Garlick) was going down the river and boat two (driven by Englert) was going up the river at a very fast rate of speed. Boat two crashed almost head-on into boat one. Boat two traveled over boat one and crushed the little girl," Nunnamacher said.
He said Englert was the only occupant in either boat who was not ejected and thrown into the water.
The crash brought riverside campers and boaters scrambling and dispatched numerous emergency crews to the area.
Some of those who witnessed the crash and ran to help said they will never forget the sound that disrupted them from an otherwise calm summer evening along the river.
"It was horrible. It was like thunder and then screaming ... lots of screaming ... people yelling for help," Jaime Plowman said as she and Stacy Kelly talked Saturday morning about the crash the night before.
The two young women, still shaken by the crash, said they've grown up on the river lots owned by their families and saw the tragedy unfold.
"It happened right here...," Stacy said, pointing to the river directly in front of her family's river lot. "We heard the crash. One of the boats (Englert's) flew up the river. The other one stopped here," she said.
When she first heard the crash, Jaime said she thought that a boat hit a dock. "Then we saw all the people in the water ... and the screams... somebody yelled that somebody was missing. Lots of people ran down to help. Everyone pulled together and did whatever we could. The first thing we did was made sure everyone was accounted for then we waited for the emergency responders."
"It seemed like forever until they got here... but it really wasn't that long. It was just so scary... so scary. I've never seen something like this before," Kelly continued, pointing to where ambulances parked across the road.
"And the sound of the motor ... the engine just kept running for a long time ... it was out of the water," Jaime said, grimacing as she remembered that noise and watched people from the boat helped to shore.
When the coroner arrived, the women said they realized that somebody had died and word quickly filtered through the campsites that it was a young girl. They said there were also two young boys in Garlick's boat and they appeared shaken but were walking around after being helped from the water.
Bart Garlick suffered injuries to his right arm and was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Nunnamacher said. The others suffered minor injuries, he added.
Both boats remained tied at the riverside for hours, as officials began the investigation. Englert's boat had major damage, including a broken windshield, while the other boat appeared to have little damage, Jaime said.
"They had them tied to the dock with yellow police tape strung around the area for a couple of hours. They finally pulled them out of the river at about 11:30 Friday night. It was late ... it took them quite awhile to get them out ... it was dark," Jaime said.
Jaime and Stacy said it will be a long time before they will forget this nightmare that halted the boat traffic on the river and disrupted a nearby festival.
Dozens of other boaters left the river early on a warm summer evening, as did some participating in games and enjoying entertainment at Riverfest 2009, about two miles downriver at the township boat launch.
Word of the accident spread to Riverfest when emergency boats made their way onto the river by way of the boat launch area where the festival was held. And the terrible crash was still a big topic of conversation at Riverfest on Saturday.
Despite record-breaking crowds turning out for the area's first-ever cardboard boat race and the always popular duck derby, there was a shadow of sadness in the air.
Throngs lined Veterans Bridge and the riverbank to root for their favorite cardboard boat race down the river and watch hundreds of pink, blue and yellow plastic ducks float across the finish line.
But there was an aura of sadness in the air as talk routinely returned to the boat crash the night before, rumors of drugs and alcohol and questions about water safety in a community where boating and other water recreation have become a growing, favorite pastime.
For what is worth, (& I am NOT in favor of drinking and boating) this is an abstract from an article about alcohol and impairment as it relates to boating.
“Most boaters think of collisions as the greatest threat when drinking on the water. Yet, according to BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety research, an estimated 75% of alcohol-related boating accidents and injuries DO NOT involve collisions. In fact, falls on board or overboard, or missteps at the dock or getting into the dinghy, are a much greater threat when drinking afloat.”
Prayers for the family’s
Sad story for such a promising young girl.
I suspect your original post was on the money. I know a number of that type. If you get details when they arrest someone, any chance of a ping? I’m simply curious to see if the suspicions play out.
Added..
A terrible tragedy. No doubt there was alcohol involved. It was a gorgeous day, and the river was calm and safe.
Condolences to all those who loved this beautiful child.
Here’s her obit link again (I think it was deleted):
http://www.lockhaven.com/page/content.detail/id/511779.html?nav=5010
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