8-year-old killed in San Diego boat accident

An 8-year-old boy was killed and five adults are in serious condition tonight after the recreational boat they were aboard collided with a Coast Guard patrol boat in San Diego Bay, authorities said.

A 33-foot Coast Guard vessel responding to a report of a grounded vessel crashed against the boat carrying 13 passengers just before 6 p.m., U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Jetta Disco said. The Coast Guard vessel was carrying five people, none of whom were injured.

The recreational boat was in the water during the annual San Diego Bay parade of lights, a celebration where dozens of boats decked in holiday lights take part in a procession around the bay. A member of the parade planning committee said he did not believe the boat was a registered participant.

All six victims were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, where the boy later died, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque said.

Another Coast Guard boat in the area responded to the crash and helped take the passengers to shore. Both boats involved in the accident were taken to shore, where the damage was being assessed, Disco said.

The size and type of the recreational boat were unknown. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be clear with light winds. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

-- Corina Knoll

Photo: Police stand near a recreational boat that was hit by a 33-foot Coast Guard vessel Sunday evening. An 8-year-old boy was killed and five adults were injured in the crash. Credit: John R. McCutchen / San  Diego Union-Tribune

Comments

[Frank wyatt marine surveyor]

Allision not collision as the recreational boat was reported anchored

[maduceone]

Tragedy, especially when the rescuer may be the cause of the accident and especially during such a festive event. I only hope that those in serious condition recover, but the loss of a child is an unthinkable tragedy. There was one item in the story that has nothing to do with this terrible event that caught my eye - Jetta Disco! How and why did the "spokeswoman" for the Coast Guard get this name? It has "Austin Powers movie" written all over it.

[Rai*]

My condolences to the family for your loss.

[Just Say'n]

Wow!! This is crazy. I really wonder, who was at fault?, because if the Coast Guard knew that there were loads of boats in the area then they should have been more visual of who was out there, and who was in their path. "My condolence go out to this family". "Wow a kids life taken just before Christmas". That's why we need to show our kids love when we have the opportunity, because you never know when your last day will come, or theirs.

[joe rudi]

Some one get down there before the cover up happens......!

[J.Lewis]

My condolences go out to the family who lost thier child,horrible.
There needs to be an independent investigation,USCG has a history of running around at high speed ,irrspective of wht the conditions dictate,and most of the personnel operateing the smaller vessels are NOT exp/opertors.
I have been concerned about this happening.USCG cannot investigate this.

[R-U-Serious]

One of thw only times I have heard of someone using the term allision correctly. As far as cover up, do you even know who is already involved in the investigation? With the San Diego Fire Department, the San Diego Harbor Police and the NTSB conducting the investigation nothing will be covered up, remember USCG is Department of Homeland Security on Department of Defense.

[Randy]

The conditions were ideal. It's extremely unfortunate that any incident occurred. There certainly is more that needs to be known before any judgement about fault is made. Many boats were being operated in a 'festive' manner and that includes a great deal of alcohol and inattention to operational details. Operators of, and near, decorated boats had many blind spots due to bright lighting and large decorations. Many factors will need to be considered.

[matt]

i was there, and i never saw a coast guard boat until after it had all happen. when our boat came up on it, there was there two little boats sitting side by side. one a victim and the other i dunno.

[London]

This family is my best friend's family... Im sorry Holly -_-

Christmas is gonna be hard for them... terribly hard.

But Anthony is in heaven now...

They lost a family member... now they cant do anything...

but we bring them peace and love ♥ Im sorry

[The boys cousin's best friend]

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8-year-old killed in San Diego boat accident
December 20, 2009 | 11:34 pm

Boat
An 8-year-old boy was killed and five adults are in serious condition tonight after the recreational boat they were aboard collided with a Coast Guard patrol boat in San Diego Bay, authorities said.

A 33-foot Coast Guard vessel responding to a report of a grounded vessel crashed against the boat carrying 13 passengers just before 6 p.m., U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Jetta Disco said. The Coast Guard vessel was carrying five people, none of whom were injured.

The recreational boat was in the water during the annual San Diego Bay parade of lights, a celebration where dozens of boats decked in holiday lights take part in a procession around the bay. A member of the parade planning committee said he did not believe the boat was a registered participant.

All six victims were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, where the boy later died, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Maurice Luque said.

Another Coast Guard boat in the area responded to the crash and helped take the passengers to shore. Both boats involved in the accident were taken to shore, where the damage was being assessed, Disco said.

The size and type of the recreational boat were unknown. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be clear with light winds. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

-- Corina Knoll

Photo: Police stand near a recreational boat that was hit by a 33-foot Coast Guard vessel Sunday evening. An 8-year-old boy was killed and five adults were injured in the crash. Credit: John R. McCutchen / San Diego Union-Tribune

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From the L.A. Times

* San Diego boat accident leaves six injured [UPDATED]

From other L.A. sources

* 1 dead, 5 hurt in San Diego Coast Guard boat collision|dailynews.com
* 1 Dead, 5 Hurt In Coast Guard Boat Collision|ktla.com
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Around the Web

* One killed, 5 hurt in Coast Guard boat collision|cnn.com
* 1 Dead In Calif. Coast Guard Boat Collision|npr.org
* Patrol craft, boat collide at Christmas parade|msnbc.msn.com

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This family is my best friend's family... Im sorry Holly -_-

Christmas is gonna be hard for them... terribly hard.

But Anthony is in heaven now...

They lost a family member... now they cant do anything...

but we bring them peace and love ♥ Im sorry

[The boys cousin's best friend]

Whats gonna happen to the family? The mom is probably in deep depression right now. My best friend cried. EVERYONE cried. EVERYONE is sad. When I heard that the 8 year old boy died I was devestated. My best friend texted me and called me and I came over because... I knew she needed a shoulder to cry on. But now I know exactly how his life ended...

[Spectator at the event]

My condolences go out to the family who lost their child as well. I was at the event with my wife and son, it is very sad that this had to happen. I hate to say it but the only boat that we noticed earlier that night racing around the bay was a Coast Guard Vessel. All the vessels in the bay, parade vessels and spectator vessels were running with no wake or anchored. Only minutes before the allision spectators around us on Harbor Island commented to each other on how inconsiderate and dangerous it was for the Coast Guard vessel to be “racing around like it is a Monday afternoon training exercise.” I am sure that many other spectators noticed this as well. I only hope that the captain of the anchored vessel didn’t have a drop of alcohol in his system or that might be enough to cover up what may have really happened.

[Coastie Watch]

The first question that needs to be asked is:

Were the operator and crew of the USCG boat drug and alcohol tested?

That is the first thing the USCG demands when investigating a merchant ship or serious marine incident. It needs to be done within 2 hours of the incident to comply with Federal law. And, by the way, the maritime BAC limit is .04 not .08.

Wonder if the rules apply to them - or just the general public?

[Bob E Sherman]

Corina you state the size and type of the boat were unknown. You have a picture duh? In Florida Sea Tow or TowBoatUS handle groundings unless lives were in imminent danger. Sounds like this will cost the USCG and the taxpayers millions.

[TheBigPicture]

I'm sure that the Coast Guard personnel were the only sober ones out there...I've seen those boat parades in the past, everyone appears to blatantly drink...Look for a drunk driving arrest from the recreation boat...How terrible losing an 8 year old over a drinking incident...

[Dave]

Listen to the Monday Morning quarterbacks here... good grief..

[On scene]

This is an absolute tragedy! My heart goes out to the families involved, and a big "atta boy" to the doctors that were on the nearby vessels that were able to assist the victims! I see these military small boat operators transit the waters in San Diego every day and wonder about their professionalism. After seeing this tragedy last night, I know some things need a bit more attention with the way these military small boat operators conduct day to day operations out here. Again though, my condolences to the families involved whose Christmas will be less merry this year.

[W Stevens]

How blatantly ignorant and insensitive is the commentator "The Big Picture"! Not even knowing the facts and stating an 8 year old was killed because the driver of his boat (his father) was drunk. Also stating he should be cited for a civil suit of child endangerment because of 13 passengers on a 24 ft boat (all of which had life jackets on by the way - the children and adults). My family had a 22 ft Moomba boat rated for 16 passengers. Lets see, doesn't the coast guard rate boats for the number of passengers the vessel is safe to haul? Better know what you are talking about because you definitely dont have "The Big Picture". My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the DeWeese family. I'm so sorry.

[Mike P]

I feel sick to my stomach to read some of the negative comments below. I can't really say how terrible Alan and his wife are feeling right now after loosing their 8 year old son but I can only imagine as I have two kids of my own. I know the father Alan because we worked for the same company for 6 years. I don't know him personally because we never hung out but, I can say that he's a pretty conservative guy and would never put his own kids in danger. If you guys don't have anything good to say please don't say anything at all. Either be supportive or keep your negative comments to yourself. Be a human being and show some compansion towards other peoples lost.

[Cathi Marinello]

The DeWeeses are one of the most wonderful families I've had the pleasure to know. We were neighbors. Nothing is more important than the health and happiness of their boys. I have been out in the water at that exact area they were hit and I have personally experienced Harbor Patrol Boats being driven by what I call "cowboys"....inexperienced young people who think they are out for a joy ride...rather than being in the water to protect. My heart goes out to Alan, Caroline and the family.

[C. David Rogers, President, Collaborative Technologies, Inc.]

This accident is the second collision involving injuries/fatality in December 2009 where a U S Coast Guard vessel wss at fault (see Charleston, SC Bay). It emphasizes further that there is a very severe problem due to the need of proactive collision avoidance warning. My company has designed a comprehensive proactive warning system, applying state of the art technologies, that provides that function as well as a host of other proactive warning capabilities accompanied by navigation threat avoidance advisories (course change alarm, close hatches, shoot flare over stern, etc.). The key is that current on-board devices have a sample rate so slow that by the time the operator is aware, it is too late to take corrective action. I have been trying for two years to penetrate the obstructions provided by both the political 'metallic ceiling,' the lobbyist shields, mindset to avoid "change," and/or the 'old boy' wall in the USCG. Those who are interested can consult US Patent 8,047,114. It's obvious that I need both media and public support for it is estimated that our system will prevent as many as 30% of the 700 average annual fatalities in recreational boating (based on study of several years of USCG statistics where there are an avg of 7500 accidents, 3400 serious injuries, $40 million property damage per year). If further interest or can help make this system accepted, don't hesitate to contact me at rogerscd3@comcast.net, see also Google "C. David Rogers")