Wisconsin Boating Fatality Summary - 2008 Season

Updated through June 28, 2008

# Date/
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
1. 04/06/08 Wisconsin River 1 Fell Overboard Open No No
  10:47am Marathon 40, Male Drowning 13'10"/50hp    
Victim-Operator drove boat too near the water cascade below an Open dam. Boat was caught in current & capsized.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
2. 04/06/08 Wisconsin River 1 Fell Overboard Open No No
  10:47am Marathon 17, Male Drowning 13'10" / none    
Victim was passenger on boat driven too near the water cascade below an Open dam. Boat caught in current & capsized.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
3. 05/23/08 Wisconsin River 1 Presume Capsized & Fell Overboard Canoe Yes Not Known
  Unknown Door 22, Male Drowning    
Victim last seen leaving a Resort in canoe on 5-23-08 Two men observed a Blue object floating near Washington Island on 6-17 & 18. Investigation found victim. Blue object was the victim’s PFD.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
4. 06/05/08 Lake Tomahawk 1 Fell Overboard Open No Suspected
  2:25pm Oneida 63, Male Drowning 14' / 15hp    
Victim's boat was found unoccupied and going in circles. The victim was found the next day.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
5. 06/07/08 Lake Wisconsin 1 Fell Overboard Open No Unknown
  2PM Columbia 45, Male Drowning 16'/ 40hp    
Victim's boat was observed and found dfiting across the Lake on 6/8. The victim was found the next day.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
6. 06/14/08 Popple River 1 Presume Fell Overboard Kayak Yes No
  4:00PM Florence 30, Male Drowned 7'9"    
Victim did not reach pick-up point at expected time. Search next morning located victim face down near kayak in pool below Little Bull Falls.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
7 06/21/08 Little Lake Butte des Morts 1 Capsized and Fall Overboard Canoe No Not Known
  6:43pm Winnebago 48, Male Drowning    
Father & Son in canoe encountered strong winds which capsized canoe. Son was able to swim safely to shore. Father did not and his body was recovered later about 10pm.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
8. 06/28/08 Geneva Lake 1 Struck by Boat While in Water Open Yes No
  2PM Walworth 28, Female Trauma Injury 22'/260hp    
Victim was wakeboarding and fell off board. While waiting pick-up by the tow boat, she was struck by another approaching boat and that boat's propeller.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
9. 08/07/08 Black River 1 Fell Overboard Canoe No Unknown
  4PM Jackson 61, Male Drowning 12'    
Father and 2 daughters rented canoes for 2 hour trip on the Black River. Four hours later one daughter reported father did not arrive at the designated landing.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
10. 08/10/08 Lake DuBay 1 Intentionally went into water Pontoon No No
  3:45PM Marathon 52, Male Drowning 24'    
Victim & female friend were boating on lake. Friend fell overboard. Victim went into water & rescued friend. Victim did not resurface.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
11. 08/12/08 Lake Winnebago So. Asylum Bay 1 Fell Overboard Open No Unknown
  8PM Winnebago 60, Male Drowning 16'    
Boat found circling unoccupied. Victim was reported going fishing at 6AM. Body was recovered at 7:45AM the next day.
# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol
Involved
12. 08/14/08 Garth Lake 1 Fell Overboard Open No Unknown
  10:50AM Oneida 46, Male Not Known 14'    
Victim told wife he was taking boat to work on motor. Boat found traveling in circles unoccupied. Victim body found at 6PM.

Also Available:
Last Revised: Friday August 22 2008