Several people were injured when boats collided on Lake Mattoon on Saturday, October 9, 2010. One man lost his life as a result of the accident.
According to the Mattoon Journal-Gazette, Gary Enyart of Mattoon died Saturday at a local hospital after two boats crashed into each other just before 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning. At least seven other people were on the boats when the accident occurred.
Lake Mattoon is 60 miles south of Champaign, Illinois. The accident was being investigated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.
If you or a loved one has had injuries due to a boating accident, call Spiros Law to find out your legal options at 815-929-9292. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com
A boat driver accelerates as he is going to shore, causing an accident that effected three boats during the Power Boat Nati onals
on the Kankakee River over the Labor Day weekend. This event is put on by the American Power Boat Association and is an annual Labor Day tradition in Kankakee, Illinois
The driver of the boat, Dan Schwartz of San Leandro, California, was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, leaving many questions as to why the accident occurred in the first place. In an interview with the Daily Journal, chief referee Dee Berghauer stated that something happened but what is uncertain. There may have been a mechanical problem or the driver may have been unconscious.
“He accelerated towards the shore. Normally, obviously, you would end up slowing down,” stated Berghauer.
What is known is that Schwartz began accelerating as he headed towards shore. His boat hit two others with one of the three boats landing on the Kankakee County Golf Club shore.
Accidents can happen anywhere. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a boating accident, call Spiros Law to find out your legal options at 815-929-9292.
Alcohol and watercraft operation is not a good mix as boaters have found out throughout time. Paul Hale III was driving a speedboat on May 29 w hen
he hit another speedboat near the Schuyler Avenue Bridge. He was found to have a blood-alcohol rate nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the accident.
On July 30, 2010, Hale pleaded not guilty to the charges from that accident. Those charges consist of reckless operation of a watercraft, illegal operation of a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol and operating a watercraft with an blood-alcohol content over .08.
The accident occurred on May 29 around midnight. Hale was found to have a blood-alcohol level that was three times the legal limit when he hit the other watercraft from behind. According to an earlier report from the Daily Journal, six people were injured in that accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact Spiros and Wall at (815) 929-9292 to discuss your legal options.
