Kwicherbichen
05-15-2004, 12:41 AM
Whittier Man Dies In Lake Mead Accident
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Log News Service- A Whittier man died May 10 on Lake Mead while attempting to swim from a swamped boat to a houseboat.
A National Park Service official said that around 11 a.m. on May 10, high winds swamped a small boat occupied by Derrick R. Diltz, 24, and another man. Both men put on life jackets and attempted to stay with the boat.
Around noon, Diltz saw a houseboat. He left his friend and the boat and began swimming toward the houseboat. That was the last time he was seen alive, National Park Service rangers said.
The Park Service said that Diltz was at Lake Mead with about 15 other people from a church group. Some members of the group rented a houseboat, and Diltz and another man set out in a small private boat. Both vessels were headed for Callville Bay.
The remaining members of the group drove from Echo Bay to Callville Bay to meet the two boats. At 8 p.m. on May 10, they notified the Parks Service that the boats had not arrived as scheduled.
Severe wind conditions, including gusts of more than 60 mph, prevented it from initiating a search at that time, the National Park Service said.
Around 7 a.m. May 11, rangers located the houseboat at Middle Point. No major injuries were reported among the occupants.
Rangers found DiltzÂ’ body around 10:30 a.m. on the Nevada side of Lake Mead, near Cormorant Rock.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Log News Service- A Whittier man died May 10 on Lake Mead while attempting to swim from a swamped boat to a houseboat.
A National Park Service official said that around 11 a.m. on May 10, high winds swamped a small boat occupied by Derrick R. Diltz, 24, and another man. Both men put on life jackets and attempted to stay with the boat.
Around noon, Diltz saw a houseboat. He left his friend and the boat and began swimming toward the houseboat. That was the last time he was seen alive, National Park Service rangers said.
The Park Service said that Diltz was at Lake Mead with about 15 other people from a church group. Some members of the group rented a houseboat, and Diltz and another man set out in a small private boat. Both vessels were headed for Callville Bay.
The remaining members of the group drove from Echo Bay to Callville Bay to meet the two boats. At 8 p.m. on May 10, they notified the Parks Service that the boats had not arrived as scheduled.
Severe wind conditions, including gusts of more than 60 mph, prevented it from initiating a search at that time, the National Park Service said.
Around 7 a.m. May 11, rangers located the houseboat at Middle Point. No major injuries were reported among the occupants.
Rangers found DiltzÂ’ body around 10:30 a.m. on the Nevada side of Lake Mead, near Cormorant Rock.