Deadly Lake Boat Crash

Authorities are still investigating a deadly crash at Skiatook Lake over the weekend. Two boats collided just south of the state Highway 20 bridge, a hotspot on the lake, Saturday night. The News On

Sunday, July 29th 2007, 2:00 pm

By: News On 6

Authorities are still investigating a deadly crash at Skiatook Lake over the weekend. Two boats collided just south of the state Highway 20 bridge, a hotspot on the lake, Saturday night. The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage reports on the last weekend in July, lake visitors were surprised more people weren't on the water, but they don't mind. They say every extra boater multiplies the danger.

"Mine will run about 60, so I'm right in there with 'em," boater Jim Miller said.

As captain of his family's boat, Jim Miller says he's on the lookout for 360 degrees of danger.

"You just gotta kinda keep your head up and keep turning around to make sure you, make sure you're looking in all directions," said Miller.

"I'm a grandpa driver,â€ lake visitor Marvin Lee said.

Marvin Lee says his family just comes to fish. He's always looking for the calm in the middle of the chaos.

"There are rules of the water, that you should obey. If everybody understood the rules, then you wouldn't have incidents where two boats would cross illegally," said Lee.

As a boat takes off from the no-wake zone its nose is out of the water for the first few seconds. The driver can't see what's right in front of him. Lake Patrol says that's what happened Saturday night.

A speed boat driver didn't see a parked pontoon boat until it was too late. The driver tired to correct his course at the last minute, but still ran over the pontoon boat, killing Dean Gildersleeve, and costing Thomas Clayton his leg. OHP says they don't suspect drugs or alcohol were a factor, but they took a routine blood test anyway.

"Most everyone's paying attention. They stay clear of the shore," lake goer April Westerfield said.

Some lake goers say theyâ€™re buzzed by boats and jet skis all the time, but they say no close calls.

"They see people out swimming, and they pretty much, everyone keeps to themselves and everyone's nice and friendly and waves at you when they go by," said Westerfield.

Westerfield and her friends say low lake levels kept speeds slower last summer. Skiatook is now six-feet-above normal and filling up with visitors too.

"You lose sight of that, and you can get in trouble quick," Lee said.

Three other passengers on the pontoon boat were fine, and no one on the speed boat was hurt. Lake Patrol says at this point, it just looks like an unfortunate accident, but they'll turn their investigation over to the Osage County District Attorney who will decide if the racing boat driver will face any charges.

Watch the video: Man Killed In Boat Crash