07-24-2008, 06:00 PM
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#1 |
| Hellwoman Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Mind Sweep Age: 50
Posts: 2,717
| Be careful pulling an aquaplane device!
Fort Wayne girl hurt in freak tubing accident
Updated: July 24, 2008 12:42 PM PDT
The following information was provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Law Enforcement:
A 16 year old Fort Wayne girl was hurt in a freak tubing accident on Lake of the Woods, in Lagrange County, shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. According to investigating Indiana Conservation Officer Patrick Heidenreich, a 1999 Yamaha personal watercraft being operated by 17 year old Sydney Barton of 15275 Radiance Dr., Noblesville, was towing a tube occupied by 16 year old Bethany Beechler of 6330 Shoaff Rd., and 13 year old Shelby Bushy of 9506 Sugar Mill Dr., both of Fort Wayne. Officer Heidenreich believes that one of the 2 girls on the tube signaled Barton to slow the speed of her personal watercraft. As both the watercraft and tube were slowing, both girls slipped forward off of their tube and in doing so, a non-locking carabineer (a D-shaped ring with a spring catch on one side, used for fastening ropes) connecting the tow line to the tube became impaled along the left side of Beechler's neck. She was immediately taken to shore and transported by ambulance to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Her condition at the time of this release is unknown.
Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind boaters that state law requires a minimum of 3 persons to water-ski or tube in Indiana, the operator of the boat, an observer riding in that boat, and the water-skier or tuber.
Units on scene: Lagrange County Sheriff's Dept, Lagrange County EMS, Stroh Volunteer Fire Dept, and Indiana Conservation Officers
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Take time to get to know your hand signals
Read the water in relationship to how the towed device will behave and respond
Be careful in turns or crossing over wakes or swells
Be mindful of how many people are on board and their weight load
Make sure that USCG approved and properly fitted lifejackets are worn and fastened
Make sure that long hair is tied up and cannot whip around the line
Be careful of foot and hand entrapment
Make sure you have a spotter on board with a flag
Do not operate in highly congested boating areas or in narrow channels
Make sure your physical level of fitnes matches your activity
Always use stainless steel lock 'd' gate carbeeners!
Be careful of quick release carabeeners that can accidentally be unlatched
Do not suck up the towed line in your water intake, even at slow or idle speed you can still draw that line into the pump housing
Yours In Water Safety-Shawn |
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