CHEROKEE COUNTY, Oklahoma - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a boating collision Tuesday afternoon on Lake Tenkiller hurt three people.

Troopers said the incident occurred on the Cherokee County lake between Needles Point and Snake Creek at about 2:30 p.m.

The OHP said a 1996 Skeeter bass boat operated by James Williams, 43, of Ganns was headed east when it was struck by a southbound 1991 Ranger bass boat operated by Jeremy Bersche, 28, of Sallisaw.

Troopers said the impact threw Bersche and a passenger, Ernest Fletcher, 38, of Fort Smith out of their boat. Bersche wasn't injured, but Fletcher was taken to a Fort Smith hospital where he was treated and released.

The driver of the other boat, James Williams wasn't injured, but his two passengers - Jason Belt, 43, and Anthony Farris, 36, both from Sallisaw - were taken to the hospital. Belt was flown to a Tulsa hospital and Farris was taken to a Tahlequah hospital. Both were admitted and the OHP says both were stable.

The OHP says no one on either boat was wearing a life jacket.

When will people learn to wear pfds ? You just never know when you'll need them!

We had a canoe tip over this past weekend on a local lake. Dad and 2 kids. A shore fisherman called 911 . Kids survived father did not. No pfds on the boat

Wow... I don't get it. Whether it be laziness or pure ignorance, it's always sad how your decisions will affect the ones around you. My heart goes out for those kids slonezp

"It won't happen to me" has killed or injured many people.

Lake Tenkiller... ominous name.

 

At least nobody was killed. But the other

story about the father and 2 kids, now 

that's sad.

 

I see way too many people on reservoirs

here out in kayaks, canoes not wearing PFDs.

 

Maybe they think because it isn't "required"

it isn't "necessary". Logic couldn't be more

wrong.

Sounds like impact injuries to me, not sure wearing pfd's minimize those injuries.. Wearing pfd's certainly won't prevent a careless accident.

Sounds like impact injuries to me, not sure wearing pfd's minimize those injuries.. Wearing pfd's certainly won't prevent a careless accident.

 

Quite true, I guess it just goes hand-in-hand

with the tragic nature of boat collisions, etc.

 

If the collision knocked one guy out, and threw

him from boat, the PFD would have saved his life, 

presumably...

your chances of surviving any type of accident on the water increases with a PFD being worn.  

 

it is really sad to see that a dad and his two kids going out to enjoy nature in a canoe ends in such a tragic event.  I hesitate to call it an accident because not wearing a PFD is not an accident, it is a conscious choice that is made that can have dire consequences.  I feel for those kids having to see their dad drown, probably while trying to help them too...

Being on the water without any Life Jackets is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute.

 

Demise is close and with each passing moment, it's getting closer.

 

A-Jay

I am sorry to hear that, I would love to say that wearing a PFD comes with age but that seems to be wrong. I see so many on Toledo Bend that launch and take off with no PDF and some do not even know how to run the boat lanes here. Toledo Bend is filled with stumps every where, in the last three years alone I've follow four boats back to the ramp because they had hit a stump and were taking on water, only one of those had on PDF's.

 

  See my Sig.

By no means am advocating against wearing a PFD, however, I don't see how wearing one would have prevented any of the injuries in this collision. In the second example, the father and two boys in a canoe, a PFD appears to be more critical. I've always felt it was backwards to wear it when your running fast in a power boat, but skip it in a small, paddled vessel. Seems like we get this backwards all the time. If I crash my bass boat while the big motor is running, I've got bigger issues than staying afloat. But it's easy to trip, hit your head and fall in when up on the deck. Just my personal thoughts on rules, and rationale behind the safety.

I don't wear one while fishing at trolling motor speeds, the majority of fishermen don't, at least the ones that I know. I do wear one when while under power of the main. I've not known one of my fishing buddies to ever require one while on the water, but they're a nice safeguard just in case you do. BTW...I disagree with the analogy that it's like jumping out of a plane without a parachute...I've jumped plenty and it's not the fall that will kill ya, it's the sudden stop at the end. No such animal while at trolling motor speeds on the water, unless some numbnuts tries to run you over. Not so sure a PFD is going to do you much good in that situation unless you are knocked into the water unconscious 

I don't wear one while fishing at trolling motor speeds, the majority of fishermen don't, at least the ones that I know. I do wear one when while under power of the main. I've not known one of my fishing buddies to ever require one while on the water, but they're a nice safeguard just in case you do. BTW...I disagree with the analogy that it's like jumping out of a plane without a parachute...I've jumped plenty and it's not the fall that will kill ya, it's the sudden stop at the end. No such animal while at trolling motor speeds on the water, unless some numbnuts tries to run you over. Not so sure a PFD is going to do you much good in that situation unless you are knocked into the water unconscious 

 

Fair enough.

 

I will say that choosing to not wear a Life Jacket because you do not know anyone who has ever needed one is an extremely naïve perspective. 

 

After three decades of Search & Recue, I've met plenty. 

 

Some of them rode home in a big Black Bag.

 

A-Jay

I lost a good friend a couple of years ago when he fell from his boat while fishing. No PFD. I nearly drowned when I fell off a friends boat in cold water. No PFD. I am a good swimmer. My friend was a great swimmer and in great shape. When fishing alone or in cold water if you are not wearing some sort of PFD you are gambling with your life. Any time you are running at speed, same thing. Some of us get lucky, others don't. I wear an inflatable belt-always unless I am wearing something better.

I don't wear one while fishing at trolling motor speeds, the majority of fishermen don't, at least the ones that I know. I do wear one when while under power of the main. I've not known one of my fishing buddies to ever require one while on the water, but they're a nice safeguard just in case you do. BTW...I disagree with the analogy that it's like jumping out of a plane without a parachute...I've jumped plenty and it's not the fall that will kill ya, it's the sudden stop at the end. No such animal while at trolling motor speeds on the water, unless some numbnuts tries to run you over. Not so sure a PFD is going to do you much good in that situation unless you are knocked into the water unconscious

That last bit, and fishing coldish water (50s) water are when you'll want one. Otherwise, when the big motor is running, all a PFD is good for on my eyes is to have a body to bury. I wear mine 90% of the time anyway, though, it's a light auto inflate.

How's that saying go A-jay? 50% chance of living after being submerged in 50 deg water for 50 minutes.

Here's the article. There was a second man in the canoe. 49* water and I heard they found the dads body in 22fow 3 hours after the accident http://wgntv.com/2015/04/13/3-rescued-1-dead-in-canoe-accident/ and http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Man-Dies-in-Canoe-Accident--299532141.html

Very sad about their dad not making it.

A pfd is for emergencies. We seldom, if ever, know when the emergency will happen.....if we did we would just avoid being in that place at that moment in time.

I'll go when the good Lord has decided I'm done here on earth.......I don't recall how many stories I've read or seen on TV where the missing fisherman was not wearing a PFD.....days, sometimes weeks go by before the body is found if it is even found at all.

I don't want to put my family through that........like Franco said......make it easier to find my body if nothing else.

I wore one on 8 Different aircraft carriers, that's a bit different. I would wear one while motoring like JF stated, other than that.. It's my choice not to.

What does upset me, people driving flooded roadways... There have been 7 drownings this month driving flooded roadways... I guess it was their choice too, but I can't help, based on the ages & gender, they simply didn't grasp the power

& danger of water.

That last bit, and fishing coldish water (50s) water are when you'll want one. Otherwise, when the big motor is running, all a PFD is good for on my eyes is to have a body to bury. I wear mine 90% of the time anyway, though, it's a light auto inflate.

How's that saying go A-jay? 50% chance of living after being submerged in 50 deg water for 50 minutes.

 

Here you go J ~

 

 

HYPOTHERMIA IN WATER

Loss of body heat to the water, is a major cause of deaths in boating accidents. Often the cause of death is listed as drowning; but, often the primary cause is hypothermia. It should also be noted that alcohol lowers the body temperature around two to three degrees by dilating the blood vessels. Do not drink alcohol around cold water. The following chart shows the effects of hypothermia in water:

 

WATER TEMPERATURE / EXHAUSTION / SURVIVAL TIME

32.5 degrees............................Under 15 min........Under 15 TO 45 min.

32.5 to 40................................15 to 30 min.........30 to 90 min.

40 to 50...................................30 to 60 min.........1 to 3 hrs.

50 to 60...................................1 to 2 hrs..............1 to 6 hrs.

60 to 70...................................2 to 7 hrs..............2 to 40 hrs.

70 to 80...................................3 to 12 hrs............3 hrs. to indefinite

Over 80...................................Indefinite...............Indefinite

PFD's (personal flotation devices / better known as life jackets) can increase survival time because of the insulating value they provide. In water less than 50 degrees you should wear a wet suit or dry suit to protect more of the body.

 

 

SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. While in the water, do not attempt to swim unless to reach nearby safety. Unnecessary swimming increases the rate of body heat loss. Keep your head out of the water. This will increase your survival time.
2. Keep a positive attitude about your rescue. This will increase your chances of survival.
3. If there is more than one person in the water, huddling is recommended.
4. Always wear your PFD. It won't help if you don't have it on.

A-Jay

To each his or her own, I suppose, since it isn't a

law to *have one on* at all times.

 

If it were a rule, or mandatory that we wear PFDs,

at all times, I wouldn't complain because it is part

of my arsenal and my sons' no matter what.

 

I just don't want there to ever be a "what if he wore

his PFD?" if I were in an accident on the water.

 

I'm with A-Jay and his point #4. Logical to the core.

When I am on busy lakes I rarely see people wearing pfds there is a lot of choices in life we can all make to be safer. That being said I wear one when I am by myself but usually not with others. I always wear one when on Cold water.

I've been contemplating getting a Float Coat for early and late season fishing. When I fish late season, I'm normally wearing Carhart bibs, Carhart jacket, and boots. If I ever fell in, I'm going straight to the bottom. Do not pass go, do not collect $200

I plan on wearing one all the time when I get my first boat. Could lose control of a boat or anything could happen, would rather not take the risk.

If you are in my boat and the big motor is running, you WILL wear a PFD or you WILL remain at the dock.  At trolling motor speeds, it's up to you.

I've been contemplating getting a Float Coat for early and late season fishing. When I fish late season, I'm normally wearing Carhart bibs, Carhart jacket, and boots. If I ever fell in, I'm going straight to the bottom. Do not pass go, do not collect $200

 

Float coats are nice - I lived in one spring & fall for a long time. It was a Mustang.

Had two, the Classic Float Coat (down over the hips) and then during boarding's, the Bomber Style for gun belt & weapons access.

 

Stayed toasty warm - usually.

 

A-Jay