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Samantha Hayes ReportingA 70-year old man is in the hospital tonight after he lost control of his boat. It was the second dangerous incident recently on a Utah reservoir. With Labor Day weekend around the corner, boat safety is a priority.
The man described a terrifying situation. The steering mechanism froze, and as the boat barreled toward the shore of East Canyon Reservoir, there was nothing he could do to turn it away. It crashed, fell to the side, and both the 70-year old driver and his 69-year old passenger were taken to the hospital.
Another frightening boating incident happened recently at Rockport Reservoir. Five people were on a boat when it caught on fire. They tried to put it out, but the flames were out of control.
Richard Droesbeke, Utah Parks Boating Education Specialist: "With an older boat, 1960's model, lots of fiber glass and wood, the fire began to spread and it was fuel based."
Richard Droesbeke was the first on the scene and pulled four of them out of the water. There was nothing anybody could do about the boat, which probably had a fuel leak.
Richard Droesbeke: "Five persons jumped overboard. I was able to pick up four of them and the boat picked up the fifth person."
He says with Labor Day ahead, the last big boating weekend of the summer, keep safety in mind.
Richard Droesbeke: "In most boating accidents, wearing a life jacket saves people's lives."
Also follow these guidelines: Always run the blower for at least four minutes before trying to start the engine, have a knowledgeable mechanic service the boat and check for fuel leaks, also keep a fire extinguisher on board.
