nodigg
08-05-2004, 07:03 AM
BY MARK HALL
Wednesday, August 4, 2004 11:13 PM MDT
Mohave County Sheriff's Office this year has already exceeded the number of operating under the influence citations it issued in 2003, a lieutenant said Wednesday.
Lt. Randy Johnson said through June deputies on Lake Havasu issued 46 OUI citations.
Johnson said the high totals are not necessarily reflective of a more proactive approach by deputies, but because of the low occurrence of major boating accidents and fatalities this year, and increased visitation to the lake.
"It's been a lot. In fact, that's equal to last year's total," he said. "What's helped over the two holiday weekends (Memorial Day and the Fourth of July) was we haven't had a lot of accidents."
In past years Johnson said high accident totals redirected deputies to perform associated investigations, instead of performing routine patrols on the lake.
So far, the office has only investigated one fatal accident, which occurred in early July after Roy Addington, 28, of Sandy, Utah, was ejected from a boat off the shore of Crazy Horse Beach. Authorities believed alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Additionally, the office's records through June showed that personnel responded to 23 minor boating accidents and 13 injury accidents.
According to Today's News-Herald records, there have been three other boat-related deaths on the lake this year, which fell under the jurisdiction of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. All are believed to have been alcohol-related.
One accident resulted in the death of Steven Patchett, 48, and his 10-year-old son, Tyler, both of Simi Valley, Calif. The accident occurred after the boat the victims were on collided head-on with another boat, near Havasu Springs.
The third death took place last weekend, resulting in the death of Lance Furman, 32, of Norco, Calif., after the boat he was driving was struck by another boat near Havasu Landing Marina.
You may contact the reporter at mhall@havasunews.com.
Victim's mother thanks community for its support
Wednesday, August 4, 2004 11:13 PM MDT
Mohave County Sheriff's Office this year has already exceeded the number of operating under the influence citations it issued in 2003, a lieutenant said Wednesday.
Lt. Randy Johnson said through June deputies on Lake Havasu issued 46 OUI citations.
Johnson said the high totals are not necessarily reflective of a more proactive approach by deputies, but because of the low occurrence of major boating accidents and fatalities this year, and increased visitation to the lake.
"It's been a lot. In fact, that's equal to last year's total," he said. "What's helped over the two holiday weekends (Memorial Day and the Fourth of July) was we haven't had a lot of accidents."
In past years Johnson said high accident totals redirected deputies to perform associated investigations, instead of performing routine patrols on the lake.
So far, the office has only investigated one fatal accident, which occurred in early July after Roy Addington, 28, of Sandy, Utah, was ejected from a boat off the shore of Crazy Horse Beach. Authorities believed alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Additionally, the office's records through June showed that personnel responded to 23 minor boating accidents and 13 injury accidents.
According to Today's News-Herald records, there have been three other boat-related deaths on the lake this year, which fell under the jurisdiction of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. All are believed to have been alcohol-related.
One accident resulted in the death of Steven Patchett, 48, and his 10-year-old son, Tyler, both of Simi Valley, Calif. The accident occurred after the boat the victims were on collided head-on with another boat, near Havasu Springs.
The third death took place last weekend, resulting in the death of Lance Furman, 32, of Norco, Calif., after the boat he was driving was struck by another boat near Havasu Landing Marina.
You may contact the reporter at mhall@havasunews.com.
Victim's mother thanks community for its support