Mississippi River~ one person has been killed and a second is missing

  • Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    August 14, 2017 at 9:15 am #1709929

    BROWNSVILLE, Minn. — Minnesota authorities say one person has been killed and a second is missing after a Saturday evening boat crash on the Mississippi River.

    The incident happened near Wildcat Park and Landing in Brownsville, southwest of La Crosse. A witness says he saw a power boat slam into a concrete pylon shortly before 6:30 p.m. He and several others were able to jump into their boats and pull three people from the water.

    Seven people had been on the boat when it crashed, according to Houston County officials. The La Crosse County Dive Unit, several police departments and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had end their search efforts when it became too dark. No names have been released.

    Link to River Falls Journal

    wimwuen
    LaCrosse, WI
    Posts: 1960
    August 14, 2017 at 9:54 am #1709940

    They found the other person dead yesterday as well. Very sad story.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    August 14, 2017 at 12:00 pm #1709961

    Anyone know how they could have run into a day marker?
    Sounded like it was a houseboat(?)

    pool2fool
    Inactive
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 1709
    August 14, 2017 at 12:27 pm #1709974
    Brian Klawitter wrote:

    Anyone know how they could have run into a day marker?
    Sounded like it was a houseboat(?)

    Strib article called it 32 ft 10 passenger pleasure craft.

    I had the same question BK. You would have to be either intoxicated or not attending to the wheel at all to not see that concrete pylon in daylight. Not sure if the driver of the boat survived, but if so I think there’s gonna be some reckoning here. Such a waste of two lives.

    wimwuen
    LaCrosse, WI
    Posts: 1960
    August 14, 2017 at 1:09 pm #1709987

    What I’ve heard have been just rumors, so take them for what they’re worth. Apparently, the driver of this boat was taking it on a test drive (along with the owner and some other people).

    That particular stretch of river is fairly wide, so one wouldn’t really have a great reason to run that close to a pylon under normal conditions. I did hear on the radio this morning that there is belief that there may have been a second boat involved, which would make sense. Getting cut off or something similar would be the only logical reason to turn away from the main channel like that.

    Regardless, prayers go out to the families of all involved.

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