Not So Fast
08-07-2007, 01:30 PM
LAKE FOREST – Neither alcohol nor negligence appear to have been the cause of boating accident Saturday in San Diego that left a 40-year-old man dead underneath a propeller, authorities said.
"In this case, this is just a tragic accident," said Officer R. Oliver of the San Diego Police Department's Harbor unit.
Paul J. Barnard, of Lake Forest, was out boating with his wife, children and another family when he fell overboard at Campland at Mission Bay.
Barnard was trying to untie a small boat from the dock at about 5:30 p.m. He was standing on the swim step of the 20-foot Bayliner when his friend, who was operating the boat, pushed the throttle on the vessel too quickly.
The boat jumped forward, tossing Barnard into the water.
Boats in the dock have only a few feet of space and when the boat headed toward a docked boat, the driver of the vessel quickly put the boat in reverse toward Barnard, Oliver said.
"He didn't realize his friend had fallen," she said.
Barnard was cut in the torso by the propeller. His clothes became tangled on the propeller, Oliver said, while the propeller continued turning.
People jumped into the water and tried to help, including lifeguards and three nurses, Oliver said, but Barnard was seriously injured. He died at the scene.
This is the third incident since July 4 that someone has been injured by a boat's propeller in San Diego, Oliver said. In all three incidents, the driver of the boat had backed up the vessel without being aware that a passenger was in the water.
This is the first time someone has been killed in such an incident this year, Oliver said.
"It is very unusual," she said.
No charges are expected to be filed in the case. A report to the California Department of Boating and Waterways will be filed, Oliver said.
Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361
Maybe this has been posted already but this is what I find most disturbing and I really believe that inexperience was the culprit. I see it time and time again at Windsor, first timers that have no clue as to what happens driving a boat and then they get excited and confused as to what exactly they should do, well this looks like the result and it scares the poop out of me.
I admit to making mistakes when I first started boating, hell I still do but there is just no substitute for experience. The results can be very sad as in this case!!!!!:( :( NSF PS I made sure that when learning it was not a crowded area!!!!!!!
"In this case, this is just a tragic accident," said Officer R. Oliver of the San Diego Police Department's Harbor unit.
Paul J. Barnard, of Lake Forest, was out boating with his wife, children and another family when he fell overboard at Campland at Mission Bay.
Barnard was trying to untie a small boat from the dock at about 5:30 p.m. He was standing on the swim step of the 20-foot Bayliner when his friend, who was operating the boat, pushed the throttle on the vessel too quickly.
The boat jumped forward, tossing Barnard into the water.
Boats in the dock have only a few feet of space and when the boat headed toward a docked boat, the driver of the vessel quickly put the boat in reverse toward Barnard, Oliver said.
"He didn't realize his friend had fallen," she said.
Barnard was cut in the torso by the propeller. His clothes became tangled on the propeller, Oliver said, while the propeller continued turning.
People jumped into the water and tried to help, including lifeguards and three nurses, Oliver said, but Barnard was seriously injured. He died at the scene.
This is the third incident since July 4 that someone has been injured by a boat's propeller in San Diego, Oliver said. In all three incidents, the driver of the boat had backed up the vessel without being aware that a passenger was in the water.
This is the first time someone has been killed in such an incident this year, Oliver said.
"It is very unusual," she said.
No charges are expected to be filed in the case. A report to the California Department of Boating and Waterways will be filed, Oliver said.
Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361
Maybe this has been posted already but this is what I find most disturbing and I really believe that inexperience was the culprit. I see it time and time again at Windsor, first timers that have no clue as to what happens driving a boat and then they get excited and confused as to what exactly they should do, well this looks like the result and it scares the poop out of me.
I admit to making mistakes when I first started boating, hell I still do but there is just no substitute for experience. The results can be very sad as in this case!!!!!:( :( NSF PS I made sure that when learning it was not a crowded area!!!!!!!