Sad boating accident verdict in

[searay40dad]

Several CSR members boat on Lake Monroe near Bloomington, IN. Although its only 10,000 acres, its the largest lake in Indiana and has one of the largest marinas in the country (800-900 boats).

Nearly 2 years ago, two 19 yr olds in a 23' cobalt runabout where pulling another 19 yr old wake boater. Somehow, they collided (almost head-on but ended up "glancing" rather than dead straight on) with a bass boat with a man, woman and their grandkids, 8 year old triplets. The grandmother and one of the triplets were killed instantly. According to the reports, the cobalt captain jumped in the water swam towards the woman, saw she was deceased, swam back and boarded his boat and immediately left the scene of the accident reportedly because the cobalt was taking on water and they wanted to get back to the marina to call 911. Based upon 3-4 witnesses from close-by condos, including testimony from the grandfather who asked for help, and investigations concluding the Cobalt was not in any danger of sinking the verdict reached yesterday was the operator was found guilty of 3 felonies for leaving the scene of an accident. "He did not fulfill his legal and perhaps, more importantly, his moral duty, to his fellow beings under the circumstances. I think that was the most compelling," said Robert Miller, the Monroe County Chief Deputy Prosecutor. "Authorities would not assign blame for the crash, but the operator would be charged with leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in injuries and death."

Sad story and no winners here. http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-jury...rash-on-monroe-lake-20120607,0,2672767.column

...and 2 weeks ago, 3-4 guys were horsing around on the docks, and one ended up drowning. Ruled a homicide and 3 were arrested.

IMO, Monroe can be a dangerous place to boat. besides the large number of boats that moor there it also gets big city weekend draw of boaters from Indianapolis area too. live close by and did alot of our boating there since I was young but the congestion and shear number of accidents were a major consideration for pulling out and heading south. I've just never seen more idiots and inexperienced boaters in one place in my life. CSR guys, be safe and watch out for all the clowns. off my soapbox now...

 

[moparlvr4406]

Monroe is chaos
boated on it since I was 16 and every year it's a little worse.
But I still go.

 

[MonacoMike]

A lot of: novices, drinking "I've done it all, I know it all" types, and unsupervised young people running amok there.

This will break your heart: ""Ever since the accident, since Gage's mom and dad got to the hospital, the first thing JT .said was, 'they didn't stay to help us, mommy. Why didn't they stay to help, and that's so hard for an eight-year-old to understand," said Erica Collier.
Wood could be sentenced to upwards of 19 years behind bars."

MM

 

[moparlvr4406]

the alcohol definitely has a bit to do with it
last year a soccer mom on a rental canboat decided to tow a tube with 3 LITTLE kids on it under the causeway into the unlimited speed side and dropped a couple off of it under the bridge tying up traffic for almost a half hour in both directions
I set my 240 across the opening to block the passage into the idle side until the kids were retrieved by the probably 9 year old from the pontoon.
I'd bet there were in excess of 70 boats waiting to change sides through all of this
BUT....Soccer mom smiled and waved to all of us as she blundered her way into the speed zone.

 

[just me]

I boat on a large lake , and i never go on weekends , i'm on the lake at daylight and only see a few fishing boats, seem to have the lake to myself , weekends , they can have it , weekdays , she's all mine.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Anytime someone is in a boating accident it's tough. When someone dies from the accident it's tragic. Yet, some never learn and still keep doing the same old crap...drinking, horsing around with the boat, etc.

Sad

 

[rfl]

Hi gofirstclass,
I'm new to the sea ray club and am not sure if this is the right way to contact you but I saw a posting about your shipping a 50er. I am possibly buying a 480DB Sedan Bridge and need to ship it. Would you recommend your shipper?
RFL

 

[MonacoMike]

Hi gofirstclass,
I'm new to the sea ray club and am not sure if this is the right way to contact you but I saw a posting about your shipping a 50er. I am possibly buying a 480DB Sedan Bridge and need to ship it. Would you recommend your shipper?
RFL

Click his name and the second choice is "Private Message", select that and send away. Your post is called a hijack as it has nothing to do with the topic in the header. Welcome aboard and good luck,

MM

 

[cain]

We went to Monroe last 4th of July and will never go back. Jut about my worst experience boating. Water was way too choppy for my little 20' and ended up having a carb issue in the middle of the lake. I swear a cruiser intentionally tried to drown us (2 young kids on board to boot) by flying by us wide open not 10 yards from the boat. He had plenty of room and time to get some distance and it was pretty clear we were dead in the water and working on the engine. He just smiled and waved as we all tried to stay in the boat.

Got things running and then got caught in a huge storm while trying to trailor the boat. The docks became chaos with clueless people on how to control their boats. I had to hold one boat while the crew jumped out to get into a fist fight with another boater whom's boat they hit. I had to catch their boat to keep from crashing into mine as they, including the driver, jumped out onto the dock to fight. No one even tried to tied it up. I threatened to let it go since my truck and trailer was coming down the ramp. They then wanted to fight me.

 

[src]

Cain, that sounds like the perfect intersection of the fact that they will let just anyone buy a boat, and will also let just anyone have children.

 

[Lord Farringdon]

Interesting comments about clownish behaviour on that lake. A tragedy was inevitable. I wonder too if there is something in the psyche about freshwater lakes which make people feel inherently more safe on them than in the open sea? We have had similar tradgedies on some of our popular lakes in the summertime when swimmers, jet skiers and alcohol come together. Clown suits are issued all round. In contrast, I have found the Gulf cruising I do to be generally accompanied by more careful and considerate boaters. I'm not saying I don't see a few yahoos from time to time, but just that it doesn't seem to be as bad as the lakes.

By the way, does anyone know what this structure is on Lake Monroe? Its about 2nm south of the causeway in an inlet on the eastern side of the lake. I'm saying fish farm?


Terry

 

[Monroe Boater]

By the way, does anyone know what this structure is on Lake Monroe? Its about 2nm south of the causeway in an inlet on the eastern side of the lake. I'm saying fish farm?


Terry

Those are the floating docks and squared off swim areas at the Boy Scout camp. The shore connector section is not attached in this pic.

 

[Neffc]

I live in Bloomington, and bought my first boat this year. Ive been on Monroe four times. I was out last friday and it was pretty empty. I have kids and plan on staying off the lake on weekends and holidays. Let the idiots have it then. They can kill each other. Ill go during the week! And if i decide to go out on the weekend, I'll hit Lemon.

 

[Monroe Boater]

Monroe is a fine lake for boating. Unfortunately, most people who use it on the weekends have no idea how to operate a boat other than at full speed. You learn quickly that the lake gets very choppy with the traffic and with a little wind can get brutal for a small boat. Thankfully we live a few minuets from the lake so we get to enjoy it when the crowds are not around, and don't use the launch ramps. We have noticed the DNR seems to have stepped up patrols and enforcement this year because of the accidents and drownings that have occurred over past few years. You just need to be careful wherever you boat.

 

[Lord Farringdon]

Thanks Monroe Boater. Pretty elaborate setup!

Terry

 

[Monroe Boater]

That dock snaps together sort of like giant Lego blocks... Looking at the pic again, I think the shore connector sections are the pieces forming the small squares. I know they remove it (shore connector) to prevent boaters from using the docks when the camp is not being used.

 

[firecadet613]

We used to frequent Monroe...but chose to slip up on Lake Michigan. Adds 30 minutes to our drive each way, but we avoid the Chaos that is Monroe on most weekends.

 

[OldSkool]

I remember this story when it broke 2 years ago. Even now after the finding, the verdict is a hollow justice. People were killed, lives changed forever and a young man may go to jail for a long time. Very sad indeed.

Thanks for the update SR40dad.