Boat Capsizes On Allegheny River

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Dave11

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I thought I would share this sad story with everyone. A good reminder to be extra careful during the upcoming boating season.

Apr 11, 2010 6:23 am US/Eastern

2 Dead After Boat Capsizes On Allegheny River

HARMAR TOWNSHIP (KDKA)

Officials say the boat capsized on the Allegheny River near Lock No. 3 in Harmar Township Saturday afternoon.

Two men died and another was able to swim to shore this afternoon after a boat capsized on the Allegheny River in Harmar Township.

Officials say three men were aboard the boat when it got sucked into turbulent waters on the Allegheny River near Lock No. 3 around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

"There were three people fishing, everybody went in the water," said Lawrence Furlong, of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. "We do have some witnesses. Right now, everything is under investigation."

Several people witnessed the fishing boat get sucked into the water, and the three men cling to the vessel for several minutes.

"They observed the vessel outside the safe zone," said Col. Mike Crall, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who was at the scene Saturday afternoon. "The next time they observed the vessel there was crash fire rescue on the abutment side. We're standing now, and we're standing by to facilitate any rescue and recovery operation."

Officials say the buoys used to mark the danger zones are not put in place until May and the horn used to alert boaters when they get too close to the edge was never sounded by lock personnel.

Authorities say a 30-year-old man was able to get to shore. However, his 59-year-old father and a 26-year-old friend both passed away.

Investigators have released their names. They include 30-year-old Cale Watson, of North Huntingdon, was the one to make it to shore, while his father, Gary Watson, and a friend, Brian Abercrombie, died when the boat capsized.

"And the boat just got pulled into the dam. The nose of the boat hit, and it backed off a little bit, and as soon as that boat turned sideways the two gentlemen… or all three of them went in the water cause the boat just flipped them completely in," said Pat Thomas, a witness. "It's a tragedy."

The man who was able to swim to shore was taken to Saint Margaret Hospital, but there is no word on his condition.
 

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