Fatal Weekend Boating Accident

Tuesday, August 14th 2007, 11:01 am

By: News On 6

The body of a McAlester resident thrown overboard in a boating accident in Pittsburg County has been recovered. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the body of 42-year-old Robert Countz was found just before 8 a.m. Tuesday in Lake Eufaula near the #9 landing area.

Countz and a woman were knocked into the lake Sunday evening after their boat collided with another boat on the lake. Three other people also on the boat were taken to Tulsa hospitals for their injuries. All three remain in the hospital. Another woman onboard was not hurt. OHP troopers say Countzâ€™ boat, which did not have its lights on, hit a houseboat that was sitting still. The houseboatâ€™s lights were not on as well.

Authorities say the boat struck the starboard side of the houseboat, going across the nose of the houseboat. No one on the houseboat, including two children was injured.

Troopers say there were life jackets on board both vessels, but were not in use.