A boating accident near Dreher Island (Crystal Lake side) resulted in two fatalities just before midnight last night. The second body was found by divers late this afternoon.
Initial story is here http://www.wistv.com/story/35216628/update-1-dead-in-lake-murray-boating-incident.
Try this link http://www.wistv.com/story/35216628/update-1-dead-in-lake-murray-boating-incident
Rick K
Tidewater 2200 Carolina Bay Boat
Yamaha 250 4 Stroke
Wow that’s terrible anyone know the exact location , there are no lights near the dilapidated abandoned Marina at December island near the bridge going to the tx ramp.very sad situation .
TOM GITTO
Team Keepn It Reel
Is this really happening, they were here yesterday.
20ft Sea Hunt cc Blue T Top
Sorry meant Dreher Island
TOM GITTO
Team Keepn It Reel
Is this really happening, they were here yesterday.
20ft Sea Hunt cc Blue T Top
Prayers for all involved and their families.
Carolina Skiff 218 DLV
140 Suzuki
Tom,
It was between the Marina/Tackle store and my rental, south of the twin islands.
Rick K
Tidewater 2200 Carolina Bay Boat
Yamaha 250 4 Stroke
Thanks Rick.
TOM GITTO
Team Keepn It Reel
Is this really happening, they were here yesterday.
20ft Sea Hunt cc Blue T Top
quote:There are red lights on the marina at Dreher.
Originally posted by Tom GittoWow that’s terrible anyone know the exact location , there are no lights near the dilapidated abandoned Marina at December island near the bridge going to the tx ramp.very sad situation .
TOM GITTO
Team Keepn It Reel
Is this really happening, they were here yesterday.
20ft Sea Hunt cc Blue T Top
Not that it will undo this horrific tragedy, but I am very curious to see the details when the investigation is complete. Was the smaller boat anchored when the powerboat hit it or were they both underway? If anchored, did the smaller boat have the proper lighting activated? If underway, were the proper nav lights being used by both boats. It’s scary enough boating on Murray during the day because of all of the yahoos, let along at night. Watching the complete lack of knowledge and/or total disregard for the “rules of the road” on the water is both scary and infuriating. I’m not one for more regulations but I wouldn’t oppose being required to have to take and pass a “boater’s driving test” of sorts. There are too many people out there on the water that only know “go straight, go fast.” They don’t understand right of way or proper means of overtaking another vessel. Take a complete lack of or understanding of these VERY key points, and add in speed, distractions (impressing all of your buddies onboard, drinking alcohol), and in this case, darkness and you have a perfect recipe for disaster. We’ve all seen this playout far too many times on Murray. I honestly believe the state’s lack of on the water regulations for boaters and related requirements for becoming a boater only contribute to these types of incidents. No, you can’t “regulate” stupidity, but you can have a better grounds for enforcement and subsequent punishments for these types of incidents if there were more strenuous requirements for becoming a boater. Yes, this is “after the fact” thinking but it can’t be any less effective than the current situation.
To be honest, of all of the lakes I’ve been on in SC, Murray is the worst (that I’ve experienced…Wiley is a VERY close second) when it comes to people not knowing the on-water rules of the road. After a day of fishing on Murray, my neck is sore from all of the head shaking I do because of the disbelief of the ignorance I’m witnessing on the water. Something needs to be done to at least start the
My understanding is that the 16’ boat was anchored and catfishing … Not sure if they had additional attractant lights out or not …
16’ boat driver was experienced fisherman, so I want to believe that he would have had proper anchor and/or navigation lights and would have known well enough to stay out of traffic lanes …
My understanding is that the boat driver of the 31’ boat is one of the Dyer boys … It is further my understanding that he may have a history of substance abuse - legal or illegal depends on who you talk to …
My understanding is that the impact of the 31’ boat on the 16’ boat was enough to eject two female passengers from the 31’ boat … My further understanding is that the two females were pulled from the water by other boats in the area …
That is the baseline of my (unverified) knowledge of the incident … Charges have yet to be filed, but I suspect that if the Dyer boy was above the legal alcohol limit then he would have been arrested on the scene regardless of his financial status … That does not mean he may or may not have been under the influence of something else …
Based upon what I have personally observed on Lake Murray - there is no amount of education that will help some of these people … I can also tell you that this is a “people” problem and not a State problem as I have personally observed equally stupid people in Florida - probably worse in Florida due to the sheer number of idiots …
Lastly, and then I will let this topic go … I see an increase of teenagers on the water with “Daddy’s boat” … The kids these days are completely lacking in respect for anything or anyone … They do not care that they are waking everything is sight in the little cove or that they practically run over everyone while trying to video their latest little wave jump …
It is exactly for these reasons that the MSC decided to vacate Lake Murray during the summertime … It is even less safe on Lake Murray from noon to nightfall than it is overnight …
Unf
Good points LC. I’m not fond of regulation, although it is necessary at times. Is it time to consider “no plane” after sunset? Just a question for debate.
Great post, LC. I too have come to “understand” some of the same “understandings” as you. You’re right, some people are beyond “educating,” but that shouldn’t stop efforts to educate. There are some students in classrooms that are “beyond educating” but the other students’ education shouldn’t be abandoned because of them. Stupidity is one thing but the glaring lack of knowledge of the “rules of the road” is alarming, to say the least. That IS “teachable” and knowledge of such things SHOULD be mandatory before taking to the water. For my brother’s rehearsal dinner, we rented a few pontoon boats on a lake in northern Virginia. Before anyone could take the boats out, a designated driver had to be appointed and that driver had to have a “boater’s license.” I was designated as one of the drivers but because I don’t possess a “boater’s license,” I had to watch a video and take a test before they would allow me to operate one of the pontoon boats. Some think that was “stupid,” but I for one thought it was a positive requirement. No, I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know but for someone that didn’t have any boating experience and/or possess knowledge of the rules of the road, it would’ve been quite the eye opener. No, it won’t fix stupid but making such an “education” mandatory would help thin the heard or at the very lest, remove the “I didn’t know” excuse. Maybe I’m being overly optimistic.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
A 32’ intrepid on Lake Murray just seems out of place. Sucks for everyone involved.
’
Down here is where a signature goes but they can confuse and anger some people so I don’t have one.
you would be surprised the amount of “out of place” boats are on lake murray. its a status symbol. most of the best, big, beautiful center consoles on lake murray, have never seen a fishing rod
quote:
Originally posted by TheMechanicyou would be surprised the amount of “out of place” boats are on lake murray. its a status symbol. most of the best, big, beautiful center consoles on lake murray, have never seen a fishing rod
Sad but true.
Capt, at certain times of the year on Murray, anything other than 32’ Intrepids and big “go fast” powerboats seems out of place. Hell, I’d rather deal with the pesky nuisance that is the jet ski crew rather than the “look at how fast I can go in my big powerboat while we pound beers” crew. Granted, both crews combined are the reason the grass was eradicated from Murray but that’s a topic for a different thread.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
quote:
Originally posted by LawcrusherMy understanding is that the 16’ boat was anchored and catfishing … Not sure if they had additional attractant lights out or not …
16’ boat driver was experienced fisherman, so I want to believe that he would have had proper anchor and/or navigation lights and would have known well enough to stay out of traffic lanes …
My understanding is that the boat driver of the 31’ boat is one of the Dyer boys … It is further my understanding that he may have a history of substance abuse - legal or illegal depends on who you talk to …
My understanding is that the impact of the 31’ boat on the 16’ boat was enough to eject two female passengers from the 31’ boat … My further understanding is that the two females were pulled from the water by other boats in the area …
That is the baseline of my (unverified) knowledge of the incident … Charges have yet to be filed, but I suspect that if the Dyer boy was above the legal alcohol limit then he would have been arrested on the scene regardless of his financial status … That does not mean he may or may not have been under the influence of something else …
Based upon what I have personally observed on Lake Murray - there is no amount of education that will help some of these people … I can also tell you that this is a “people” problem and not a State problem as I have personally observed equally stupid people in Florida - probably worse in Florida due to the sheer number of idiots …
Lastly, and then I will let this topic go … I see an increase of teenagers on the water with “Daddy’s boat” … The kids these days are completely lacking in respect for anything or anyone … They do not care that they are waking everything is sight in the little cove or that they practically run over everyone while trying to video their latest little wave jump …
It is exactly for these
[quote]Originally posted by bangstick
Not that it will undo this horrific tragedy, but I am very curious to see the details when the investigation is complete. Was the smaller boat anchored when the powerboat hit it or were they both underway? If anchored, did the smaller boat have the proper lighting activated? If underway, were the proper nav lights being used by both boats. It’s scary enough boating on Murray during the day because of all of the yahoos, let along at night. Watching the complete lack of knowledge and/or total disregard for the “rules of the road” on the water is both scary and infuriating. I’m not one for more regulations but I wouldn’t oppose being required to have to take and pass a “boater’s driving test” of sorts. There are too many people out there on the water that only know “go straight, go fast.” They don’t understand right of way or proper means of overtaking another vessel. Take a complete lack of or understanding of these VERY key points, and add in speed, distractions (impressing all of your buddies onboard, drinking alcohol), and in this case, darkness and you have a perfect recipe for disaster. We’ve all seen this playout far too many times on Murray. I honestly believe the state’s lack of on the water regulations for boaters and related requirements for becoming a boater only contribute to these types of incidents. No, you can’t “regulate” stupidity, but you can have a better grounds for enforcement and subsequent punishments for these types of incidents if there were more strenuous requirements for becoming a boater. Yes, this is “after the fact” thinking but it can’t be any less effective than the current situation.
To be honest, of all of the lakes I’ve been on in SC, Murray is the worst (that I’ve experienced…Wiley is a VERY close second) when it comes to people not knowing the on-water rules of the road. After a day of fishing on Murray, my neck is sore from all of the head shaking I do because of the disbelief of the ignorance I’m witnessing on the wate
Oh, I’ve seen the CHARLIE FOXTROT that is the canal, but shear volume alone doesn’t come close to perfect storm that is Lake Murray in the Summer. Most times on the weekends, when the weather is warm, the lake is rougher from boat traffic than a 20mph wind out of the west. There can be absolutely no wind yet the lake is rough as hell.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a “published regulation” pertaining to how far away you must stay from an anchored vessel while out on the water. If it were 100’, that would pretty much make every creek in the low country impassable if someone was anchored and fishing in it. Published regulation or not, one would think commonsense/common courtesy would dictate how to handle the situation.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
I used to think after the 4th fireworks was the worst time to be out there, but I’m starting to think its not. There are so many boats, people have to actually pay attention.
quote:
Originally posted by 7csI used to think after the 4th fireworks was the worst time to be out there, but I’m starting to think its not. There are so many boats, people have to actually pay attention.
Very true! While the 4th is definitely one of the worst days to be on the lake, there really isn’t a good time…outside of the cold weather months. It’s not bad from sunrise until about 10am but after that, everyone has made their beer runs and are headed to the lake for a day of seeing how fast they can go, seeing how annoying they can be to other boaters/fishermen and seeing how many beers they can drink in the shortest possible time. Don’t get me wrong, I will partake in more than my share of an adult liquid libation but there is a time and place for it.
Don’t even get me started on what this crowd does to the boat ramps/landings. 
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.