' No Wake Zones' on area lakes means ' Slow Down!'

Hundreds of people die each year in boating accidents across the US. Statistically, the most dangerous month of all is July. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has more on one familyâ€™s close call

Wednesday, July 14th 2004, 8:51 am

By: News On 6

Hundreds of people die each year in boating accidents across the US. Statistically, the most dangerous month of all is July.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has more on one familyâ€™s close call at Skiatook Lake.

â€œIt was scary, my children the look in their eyes, my oldest son the look in his face it was all he could do to try to get these tow children out of the water." David Monholland is talking about the day last month when he nearly lost his life trying to help save his kids.

The boys, Will and Berry and their older brother were fishing on their boat. It was swamped and sunk by the wake of a passing speed boat. David has breathing problems but ignored that to save his kids. "My thought was for my oldest son and these two children, that's all I was concerned about."

Will: "We were very scared." Everyone was scared including their mother. Regina: "I kept telling myself I'm not letting it happen, I'm not letting it happen." She went in too and helped the boys and her husband out of the water.

The kids were fishing near the shore inside a marked no wake zone. Oklahoma Lake Patrol trooper Mark Cranford: "its common sense, people need to pay attention around them." Cranford says too many people come to the lake and leave their good sense at the boat ramp.

No wake zones at most lakes in Oklahoma are marked. The rules apply to personal water craft too.

The Monholland kids are pretty much over their nightmare of last month, they're ready to go fishing. The parents just wish everyone at the lake would take a cue from the ducks and just slow down.

Trooper Cranford says if you see obvious safety violations on the lake, don't hesitate to call *55 on your cell phone and report it.