ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

BOATING ACCIDElfr REPORT - 1970

The fol1mJing information is contained in Boating Accident Reports submitted tothis Department on 98 reportable boating accidents which occurred during theyear 1970, ;involving133 boats. There were 38 fatalities, a resulting fromdrovming and 7 from injuries. Injuries to 58 boaters also resulted. Propertydamage amo~nted to $190,828.00. Of the boating accidents reported, 'only ~ wererental boats. Forty-nine accidents involved one boat; 35 accidents involvedtwo.boats; 12 accidents wer e fires or explosions occurring to anchored boats;and 2 accidents were collisions with anchored or docked boats.

Type, Nature or Classification of Accident

Collision with Vessel 29Caps i.z ing 19Fire or Explosion (Fuel) 14FallG overboard 10Collision with fixed object 3-Collision, moored vessel 4Collision, submerged or floating objects 2Sinking 2Canoes shooting da~s 2Fire, explosion. - unknown 2Fire, electric short 1Explosion, engine 1Grounding '1-Attempt to save san from dro,~ing 1Swim.~ingfrom boat, drowned 1Rope around ski.er Is neck 1U~known 5

98Cause of Accident or Drovming

Fires, explosions (anchored)Overloaded and no life preserversInattention and carelessnessRough water, high wavesHit submerged objectChanged position in boatCanoe shooting damWake of boatsSpeed . -Mechanical failureLost balance, fell overboardStood in boatJumped overboard (sinking)Swift currentInexperience-Watching skierFlood conditionsBoat tippedSwift floo0 waters

1

18854333333222111111

-- -----.------.----------~.--.- ------------. --------··------------------ ..~--l:;_:;·"'r

page 2.Cause - continued

stuck in mud, hit gas dock 1Drinking 1Dim Lights 1Passenger·sitting on gunnel of boat

picking up skier 1Broke loose from mOIDring 1Boat ran over tow rope 1No lights 1Retri€ving duck decoys 1Unknown 25

98DROWNINGS

Twenty-one accidents resultedMonths in which drowni.ng

in the drowning of 31 persons.occurred

April 2May 13June 7July 4August 3November 2

31

No life preservers on board 11Life preservers not used 19

*Life preservers not adequate(only 2 for 6 people) 1

31* 3 children under 12. Only

2 life preservers. Boy 10 drowned.

Type and Cause Accident resulting in Drowning

Overloaded, capsizedCapsized, no life preserversStanding in boat, fell overboardChanging position, fell overboardSwift flood waters, fell overboardFlood conditions, capsizedChoppy water, hit '<laveBoat tippedFell overboardVictim drinking, fell overboardSinking~ jumped overboardSwimming from boatCollision, no life preserverSh6otL~g dam, capsizedCapsized, retrieving_duck decoys

4 persons42221

111511 (12 years old)2122

31

I

Accidents occurred in the follm-ringmonths and bodies of water in the state:JanuaryApril·MayJuneJulyAugustOctoberNovember

LakeCookMadisonMcHenryHillKankakeeJerseyJoDaviessFayetteClintonWoodfordLee

125211917183--3

Rivers 54Small lakes 23Chain o'Lakes' 10Lake J.1ichigan 8Carlyle Lake 2Crab Orchard Lake 1

98

Counties in which Accidents Occurred

171512985432222

LaSalleOgleBooneAdamsAlexanderCrawfordPerryPeoriaGallatinMercerMorganWilliamsonSangamonWhiteside

2-2111111111121

." 'of

Weather ConditionsClear and calm 46Cloudy and calm 14Clear and choppy 10Clear, strong current 11Rain, strong 'rind 2Cloudy, strong wind 2 1

Cloudy and rough 2Hazy and choppy 1Hazy and calm 2Clear and rough 1Dark and calm. 1Unkno•.m 6

98

page 4.- Age and Hours of Experience

of Boat Operators Involved in Accidents

Age ..Less than

.2020 to100

.Teenage20 - 2930 - 3940 - 4950 - 5960 and overUnknown or not

73

465121

100 to Over Experience500 500 Unknown Total

4 1 164 5 189 8 224 12 185 9 171 5 8

34133

111

operated

Type of Boat Horsepower of Motor

Open motorboatCabin motorboatRow boatSailboatAuxiliary SailHouseboatCanoePontoonUnknown

7726852352.5

Under 55 - 10

15 - 2020 2525 - 3030 - 3535 - 4040 and overUnknmm

27117

37735

133 133Length of Hull Lifesaving De\~ces

Under 12 ft.12 - 1414 - 1616 - 1818 2020 and overUnknown

37

2918223420

None on 'boardOn board - usedOn board - not used.NA (beached)Unknown

1131381637

133133

SKIING ACCIDENTS

There were 9 boating accidents related to water skiing, resulting in 14 injuriesand 1 casualty:

CausePulling skiers, collision 2 vesselsBoat stopped, skier pL'..ttingon skies,Pulling skier, skier lost balanceNot sure what happenedCollision vnth vessel, operator vratching sIderAttempting to pick up skier. Passenger sitting

on gunnel of boat, fell ove~board 1 drowningBoat pulling skier, operator inexperienced, pushed

throttle wrong position, ran over skier 1 injuredPulling skier, other boat ran over tow rope.

Skier dragged under tmT boat, cut by propeller 1 injuredSki rope wrapped arOlli._neck of skier 1 injured

4collision

•

Resultskiers injured

3 skiers injured1 skier injuredSIder injured himself2 skiers injured