phebus
12-31-2006, 05:05 PM
I don't think it's too bad being rated the 11th most dangerous lake in the U.S. considering the crowds Havasu draws.
News
Lake Havasu rated nation's 11th most dangerous waterway
BY TONY RAAP
Saturday, December 30, 2006 10:15 PM MST
Lake Havasu is the nation's 11th most dangerous waterway, according to figures released Friday through the state Department of Game & Fish.
The list, which was compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard, is based on a waterway's number of accidents. Fatalities do not factor in, said Kevin Bergersen, Arizona Game & Fish boating law administrator.
Lake Havasu had 36 accidents in 2006, according to the officials' tally.
Lake Mead, which was ranked No. 1, had 98. Bergersen said Lake Havasu had two fatalities excluding shoreline drownings and drownings that occurred on the lake's California side.
According to the Coast Guard list, six of the nation's 15 most dangerous waterways are in Arizona. Moreover, most of the state's boating accidents occurred in Mohave County. The Colorado River, which was ranked No. 2, had 83 accidents; Lake Mohave, No. 3, had 65; and Lake Powell, No. 4, had 59.
It wasn't clear from the listings the severity of the accident needed to make the list or the exact boundary lines used in determining whether accidents occurred in one of the lakes or on the river, which flows through all the reservoirs.
In 2006, the state had 255 boating accidents, 153 injuries and 14 deaths, Bergersen said.
“That represents Arizona's worst boating fatality record since 1998,” he said.
The two leading causes of boating accidents were inattention and inexperience.
“We want to help turn things around by encouraging people to take boating safety classes because educated boaters are statistically less likely to become involved in boat accidents,” he said.
The Tri-State Boating Safety Fair is scheduled for May 5 at Windsor Beach. Game & Fish also offers free boating safety instruction classes throughout the year.
To learn more, call 602-789-3235 or log on to www.azgfd.gov
You may contact the reporter at raap@havasunews.com
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Copyright © 2006 River City Newspapers, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
News
Lake Havasu rated nation's 11th most dangerous waterway
BY TONY RAAP
Saturday, December 30, 2006 10:15 PM MST
Lake Havasu is the nation's 11th most dangerous waterway, according to figures released Friday through the state Department of Game & Fish.
The list, which was compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard, is based on a waterway's number of accidents. Fatalities do not factor in, said Kevin Bergersen, Arizona Game & Fish boating law administrator.
Lake Havasu had 36 accidents in 2006, according to the officials' tally.
Lake Mead, which was ranked No. 1, had 98. Bergersen said Lake Havasu had two fatalities excluding shoreline drownings and drownings that occurred on the lake's California side.
According to the Coast Guard list, six of the nation's 15 most dangerous waterways are in Arizona. Moreover, most of the state's boating accidents occurred in Mohave County. The Colorado River, which was ranked No. 2, had 83 accidents; Lake Mohave, No. 3, had 65; and Lake Powell, No. 4, had 59.
It wasn't clear from the listings the severity of the accident needed to make the list or the exact boundary lines used in determining whether accidents occurred in one of the lakes or on the river, which flows through all the reservoirs.
In 2006, the state had 255 boating accidents, 153 injuries and 14 deaths, Bergersen said.
“That represents Arizona's worst boating fatality record since 1998,” he said.
The two leading causes of boating accidents were inattention and inexperience.
“We want to help turn things around by encouraging people to take boating safety classes because educated boaters are statistically less likely to become involved in boat accidents,” he said.
The Tri-State Boating Safety Fair is scheduled for May 5 at Windsor Beach. Game & Fish also offers free boating safety instruction classes throughout the year.
To learn more, call 602-789-3235 or log on to www.azgfd.gov
You may contact the reporter at raap@havasunews.com
What is RSS?
Copyright © 2006 River City Newspapers, LLC. All Rights Reserved.