Delaware News


DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal boating accident in Sussex County

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Date Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016



DE F&W Natural Resources Police logoLONG NECK – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers are investigating a boating accident that occurred midday Saturday at the entrance to the Pot Nets Bayside community in the Indian River Bay.

Witnesses told investigating officers that a personal watercraft (PWC) returning to Pot Nets Bayside collided with the bow of a pontoon boat leaving Pot Nets Bayside about 11:30 a.m. The impact launched the PWC several feet over the pontoon boat before it came down in the water.

Damaged Pontoon Bboat
Damage to the pontoon boat involved in Saturday’s fatal boating accident. Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police photo.

The PWC operator, a 78-year-old male from Phoenix, Ariz., was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of the pontoon boat, a 56-year-old Wilmington man, was flown to Christina Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Two passengers on the pontoon boat – a 53-year-old Newark man and a 10-year-old Bridgeville boy – were uninjured.

All names are being withheld pending notification of family members. The accident investigation is active and ongoing, Fish & Wildlife Natural Police said Saturday night.

Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 343

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police investigating fatal boating accident in Sussex County

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Date Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016



DE F&W Natural Resources Police logoLONG NECK – DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers are investigating a boating accident that occurred midday Saturday at the entrance to the Pot Nets Bayside community in the Indian River Bay.

Witnesses told investigating officers that a personal watercraft (PWC) returning to Pot Nets Bayside collided with the bow of a pontoon boat leaving Pot Nets Bayside about 11:30 a.m. The impact launched the PWC several feet over the pontoon boat before it came down in the water.

Damaged Pontoon Bboat
Damage to the pontoon boat involved in Saturday’s fatal boating accident. Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police photo.

The PWC operator, a 78-year-old male from Phoenix, Ariz., was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of the pontoon boat, a 56-year-old Wilmington man, was flown to Christina Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Two passengers on the pontoon boat – a 53-year-old Newark man and a 10-year-old Bridgeville boy – were uninjured.

All names are being withheld pending notification of family members. The accident investigation is active and ongoing, Fish & Wildlife Natural Police said Saturday night.

Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 343

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.