Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Wisconsin Boating Fatality Summary - 2008 Season

Updated through February 3, 2009

# Date /
Time
Water Body/
County
# Fatalities/
Age, Gender
Accident Type/
Cause of Death
Boat Type/
Size (length/hp)
PFD Alcohol Involved /
BAC Level
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.
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.
3. 06/05/08 Lake Tomahawk 1 Fell Overboard Open No Yes
  2:25pm Oneida 62, Male Drowning 14' / 15hp   .23
Victim's boat was found unoccupied and going in circles. The victim was found the next day.
4. 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 drifting across the Lake on 6/8. The victim was found the next day.
5. 06/11/08 Near Ellison Bay 1 Presume Capsized & Fell Overboard Canoe Yes No
  Unknown Door 22, Male Hypothermia/Drowning 15'6"    
Victim last seen in canoe leaving a resort on 6-11-08. Husband & wife observed a Blue object floating near Washington Island on 6-17 & 18. Investigation found victim. Blue object was the victim’s PFD.
6. 06/14/08 Popple River 1 Presume Fell Overboard Kayak Yes No
  4:00PM Florence 30, Male Drowning 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.
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.
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.
9. 08/06/08 Black River 1 Fell Overboard Canoe No Yes
  4PM Jackson 61, Male Drowning 17'   .238
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. Victim's body was found at 4AM next morning.
10. 08/09/08 Scott Lake 1 Went into water voluntarily Open No Yes
  4:40PM Sawyer 43, Male Drowning 16'5" / 60hp   .330
Victim went for swim. Unable to swim back to drifting boat. Boat occupants were unable to toss PFD's to victim or get the boat close to the victim.
11. 08/14/08 Garth Lake 1 Fell Overboard Open No No
  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.
12. 08/17/08 Lake Monona 1 Went Swimming from Boat Open No Yes
  10:22PM Dane 40, Male Drowning 23'   .02
Boat operator had stopped boat and was drifting. Victim went swimming. He surfaced once or twice then did not resurface again.
13. 08/24/08 Lake Michigan 1 Struck Breakwall Open No Yes
  1:15AM Kenosha 31, Male Blunt Trauma 18'   .242
Victim & 2 companions returning to Kenosha Harbor. Victim drove boat into the Harbor Breakwall.
14. 08/29/08 Little Green Lake 1 Fell Overboard Open No Taking
  11:30AM Green Lake 41, Male Drowning 14' / 30hp   Medication
Father & victim fishing from a drifting boat. Victim fell overboard. Father unable to locate victim until 30 minutes later.
15. 08/30/08 Big St. Germain Lake 1 Tube rider collision with boat Open Yes Yes
  5:23PM Vilas 39, Male Trauma Injuries 15' / 75hp   Driver_Suspect_BUI
Boat operator fell off seat. Passenger attempted to gain control of boat. Tube victim collided with boat. Boat operator fled the scene.
16. 08/30/08 N Turtle Lake 1 Fell Overboard Open No Yes
  9:00PM Vilas 55, Male Drowning 17'   .177
Husband & wife were fishing. Husband fell overboard. Wife unable to locate victim. Body was recovered the next day.
17. 09/10/08 Fenner Lake 1 Capsized, fell overboard Row boat No Not Known
  3:58PM Adams 50, Male Drowning 12'  
Victim was fishing. Boat capsized. Victim found later under water. EMS unable to resuscitate victim.
18. 09/25/08 Friess Lake 1 Capsized - Fell Overboard Row Boat No Yes
  10:22PM Washington 26, Male Drowning 12'   .077
Victim was fishing. Suddenly stood up when fish struck his line. Action capsized boat. Victim was a non swimmer.
19. 10/06/08 So. Allequash Lake 1 Canoe Capsized; Fell Overboard Canoe No Unknown
  7:22AM Vilas 42, Male Drowning 16'  
Two men in canoe enroute to Waterfowl hunting when canoe capsized. One swam to shore for help. Victim was told to stay with canoe and put on PFD. Victim was found later floating face-up below the water surface and feet above water. PFD was found floating nearby.
20. 11/08/08 Wolf River 1 Canoe Capsized; Fell Overboard Canoe No Yes
  4:40PM Outagamie 47, Male Drowning 16'6"   .268
Victim was fishing alone from anchored canoe. Victim was found downstream of capsized anchored canoe.