Fatal Drownings Claim Four Lives over Missouri’s Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day 2011 turned from festivity to tragedy for four families this weekend, as four people lost their lives in drowning-related accidents, according to a recent article in the Springfield News-Leader.
Of those who lost their lives on the water this weekend, one was fishing, one was swimming, and two were killed in a boating accident. The fishing fatality involved a 93-year-old Kansas City man who disappeared in the Lake of the Ozarks. He had been fishing off a dock in the lake at the time, and rescue workers believe he fell in. They were unable to rescue him in time. Another Kansas City resident, a 22-year-old man, drowned while swimming in Smithville Lake. Witnesses say that he was swimming across a cove when he began to struggle; he slipped underwater before rescuers could reach him. Unfortunately, he could not be revived.
Meanwhile, a boating accident on the Osage River left two men dead and four people injured after two boats collided, sending some of their passengers into the water. Two of the people injured in that accident were taken to nearby hospitals with serious injuries, while two others were treated and released. Police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Investigators say that the number of fatal drownings over 2011’s Labor Day weekend is equal to the drowning deaths that occurred over Labor Day 2010. Overall, 14 people have lost their lives in Missouri boating accidents this year. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a drowning or boating accident, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Missouri boating accident attorneys at Page Law. We will help you determine what happened and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free consultation, call us today at 314-PAGE-LAW. You can also visit our Page Law Facebook page for news, useful information, and other topics of interest.
