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Two People Killed in San Diego Boating Accident

Investigations have begun into a boating accident in San Diego this week that killed two people.  The victims have been identified as a 73-year-old man, and his 48-year-old son.  There were 10 people on the boat, which flipped over in the waters of Harbor Island, throwing all the passengers into the water.

The people were part of an outing for people with developmental disabilities, and at least two of the people on the boat had these disabilities.  The victims have been identified as the grandfather and father of one of the special needs children on the boat at the time.  There were two children o0n the boat, including another child who is not developmentally disabled.

There is no information yet on why the boat keeled over the way it did.  Weather and water conditions are not being blamed for the accident.  According to other boaters in the area, the weather was fairly normal, and the waters were calm.  When the boat flipped over, all the passengers fell into the water, which was at freezing temperatures.  Other boats nearby were able to rush to the scene, and rescue some of the passengers, who were wearing life vests.  Not all of the passengers were wearing life vests, although at this point, there is no information about how many passengers were not wearing their jackets.  At this point, San Diego boating accident lawyers have no information about whether the victims were wearing life jackets at the time.

Eight of the passengers were rushed to the University of California San Diego Medical Center and Scripps Mercy Hospital.  Most of them have suffered minor injuries, and were treated for hypothermia.  However, one woman has suffered critical injuries, and remains in grave condition.

According to the San Diego Fire Department, the water temperature was probably in the mid-50s.  Most of the passengers were shivering from the cold, and most of their injuries were related to hypothermia.  No other boats were involved in the accident.

The passengers were on a charity boat trip organized by an Indiana-based nonprofit organization.  According to news reports, the sailing charity frequently organizes such sailing trips for children with developmental needs, because sailing seems to have great beneficial effects on children with developmental disabilities.  In fact, the group had been taking children with special needs and their families out on sailing trips all day Saturday and Sunday, without an accident.

The organization, Heart of Sailing charity has released a statement since the accident.  According to the president of the Board, the accident was caused by a strong gust of wind that caught the only sail that was raised at the time.  Despite the best efforts of the crewmembers to reduce wind pressure, the boat keeled over, and capsized.  It was a 26-foot sailboat, with a single sailor on board.

However, investigators are also looking at whether the boat was loaded to overcapacity at the time.  They are also trying to determine the position of the retractable keel.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of boat accidents in San Diego. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire to discuss a personal injury matter,  you can reach us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

 

 

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