Boat Crash Reported on Belews Lake in Rockingham County, North Carolina (NC)

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NC- Wfmynews2.com writes that a crash occurred on Belews Lake close to the Carolina Marina. Reports indicate that rescuers were called to the scene in the later evening. When emergency responders arrived, they found that two vessels had been involved in a crash and that one of the eight individuals on board had been thrown off the boat. The incident remains under investigation.*

Hours prior to the crash, a boat parade full of supporters of President Trump was held in the area. Boat accidents killed 658 people in 2017, according to the National Safety Council. Thousands of others were also injured in such incidents. 

One of the best ways to prevent a day on the water from becoming tragic is to wear a life jacket. Statistics indicate that greater than three out of four boat-related deaths are the result of drownings. About 84 percent of those killed in those tragic accidents were not using life jackets at the time of their deaths. The statistics indicate that many lives would be saved every year if people were using life jackets whenever they were on the water. 

There is frequently a misconception that a life jacket is not required because the boaters know how to swim. This is faulty logic because, in many cases, boat crashes occur rapidly, and the occupants suffer injuries. Good swimmers may be knocked unconscious or otherwise injured to the point of not being able to swim. 

Avoiding boat-related injuries means using good judgment whenever going out on the water. One of the most important things to remember is never to drink alcohol before operating a boat. Alcohol impairs a person’s thinking, judgment, balance, and coordination. Such impacts can make for dangers on the water.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/belews-lake-water-rescue-boating-accident/83-7fbd3bd4-62ee-4bda-946f-55e42b16b120

https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/boating