Havasu/Parker accident statistics

[HOOTER SLED-]

I can't speak specifically for Lake Havasu, but in La Paz County (South basin Lake Havasu, Parker Strip, and South to the Yuma County line) we are down, when compared to the past.
From 1988, when I started with La Paz, until 2004 we averaged between 18-22 reportable accidents in the County. And the most fatal accidents we had in a year was 2, with most of those years having none.
Last year (2006) we had 10 accidents. 1 fatal, (in the Cibola area, 30 miles South of Blythe) 16 in 2005 (0 fatals) 17 in 2004 (2 fatals).
Lake Havasu had 59 accidents and 1 fatal in 2006.
Areas classified as "The Colorado River" had 82 accidents and 3 fatals. Now that is everywhere on the River that isn't regarded a "Lake", and could be anywhere including the Topock Gorge, Bullhead City, Grand Canyon, and anything south of Parker Dam.
Going back to the 1970s and early '80s, 50-60 accidents and up to 15 deaths a year were common on the Parker Strip.
Those figures (Except for La Paz County) are just the accidents reported to Arizona Authorities. accidents reported and Investigated by California (or Nevada) Agencies would probably increase the numbers significantly.
The accidents in La Paz County are from all records, both CA and AZ.
Wow. I'm wondering why so high back then. Perhaps smaller flat bottom boats back then? Less enforcement on drinking and driving? Hmmm? Interesting stuff. It's sad to hear all these stories. But I honestly think that the news and info is just in our face more than it was in the past. Between the Internet and the media being more willing to exploit these stories of tradgedy, I would think the amount of incidents are still probably within the same percentage range.

[No Name]

I stole these from RiverRatMike's Page.
http://www.boatcop.com/pdam1.jpg
http://www.boatcop.com/pdam4.jpg
I have some pictures in a box somewhere that show the cabanas at Moonridge with the water about a foot under the canopy tops. Same with River Lodge and Riverland.
The Keys were sandbagged but most of the homes on the Riverfront were still flooded under about 4-6 feet of water.
That was a tough time for us, since we had just formed as a County on January 1st, 1983 We lost a whole year of tourist and recreation revenue. It took probably 5-6 years after that for the area to recover financially.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/mineryho...ages/pdam5.jpg

[RiverToysJas]

:idea: So Boatcop......(watch this everyone ).......would you say that the statistics show that since RiverDave has been coming to the Parker Strip on his own, that the Strip is a safer place w/ fewer accidents?
A simple yes or no will do.
RTJas

[Boatcop]

Wow. I'm wondering why so high back then. Perhaps smaller flat bottom boats back then? Less enforcement on drinking and driving? Hmmm? Interesting stuff. It's sad to hear all these stories. But I honestly think that the news and info is just in our face more than it was in the past. Between the Internet and the media being more willing to exploit these stories of tradgedy, I would think the amount of incidents are still probably within the same percentage range.
A lot of it had to do with minimal Sate enforcement, and lack of training for State/County Officers. The only real enforcement was from the Coast Guard Boating Safety Detachments. Although we (USCG) had the best training offered at the time (8 weeks National Boating Safety School) there wasn't much available for the Cvilian Officers.
We had 3 CG boats and 5 Officers to patrol from Bullhead to Yuma and Lake Powell. 1 boat and 3 guys each on Mead and Mohave. And except for Parker, they were only out here from Memorial Day-Labor Day and Easter week.
Back then, Yuma County SO here in Parker had 1 boat, with 2 guys that would patrol on weekends. One of those guys is now our Sheriff, which is why we have such an emphasis on our Boating program.
Now there are 5 of us full time, 4 seasonal Officers and 4 boats.
A lot of our deaths, back in those days, were from water-skiers spraying people on tubes, docks etc. and misjudging the distance, running into docks. I had to investigate a fatality in 1978 were a skier was trying to spray people on the concrete dock at the Riverside Casino. They were waiting for the ferry, and he slid out and cracked his head open on the dock. We haven't had a lot of that going on now. PWCs have taken over those duties.
Add in the drinking age of 19 in AZ back then, and there were a lot of Californians (drinking age 21) partying that weren't used to the effects of alcohol. There weren't any Federal Laws against drunk boating back then. All we could do was cite them for Negligent Operation. ($300 dollar fine) And a lot of those were thrown out, since there wasn't any way for us to measure intoxication levels.
As far as percentages, I would guess that the Boat Use Days (described above) were around 200,000. Now with 50-60 accidents that was a pretty high percentage. Today with over 600,000 Boat Use Days and only 10accidents last year, we've dropped that percentage substantially.

[squirt'nmyload]

There weren't any Federal Laws against drunk boating back then. All we could do was cite them for Negligent Operation. ($300 dollar fine) And a lot of those were thrown out, since there wasn't any way for us to measure intoxication levels..
ahhhhhhhh....those were the days

[boatnam2]

It was way more crazy back in the day and im sure way more deaths per boat use as bc has described.Only thing now is the internet so everyone knows about every little drama from the weekend from someone getting there boat scratched to someone dying.Tell you the truth with the crowds anymore im suprised you dont see more deadly accidents.

[boatnam2]

My best freinds parents had a house just below foxes that was are hang out in 83,they got lucky his dad owned a big construction company and built the whole first floor out of block which held up pretty good i think it was about 3or 4 feet high of water in the first floor.

[shueman]

'83 Flood picture from a friend.Their property is on Dike Road, just north of the Needles Bridge. Water is 16'-20' deep...picture is looking over to the Cali side.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/...ood-Woody1.jpg

[mbrown2]

Way more dangerous back in the late 70's and early 80's with less boats.....
Flatbottom and Jet Drags in front of Sundance after it closed at 1am....no nothing dangerous there...and then the boats trying to cross the river to get in another hour of drinking till 2am on the Cali side and then a couple more passes after 2am....nope nothing dangerous there..
Used to ride a stand up when I was 8 at the time and learned very quickly to look both ways, and then even then had some close calls between Big Bend and Roadrunner....just a lot of hi speed passes from river boats at all times of day..
Times, education and laws were different then....remember the dads in the neighborhood going through a case of beers just getting the campers ready for the ride out to the river let alone tossing a couple back when you got there.

[unleashed]

Great Thread. Im very encouraged by the statistics. With the internet you would think the world was ending every weekend.
Seems that education and policing are working for the most part on our waterways.
Deano
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