Here’s how many people have been hurt or killed this year in Lake of the Ozarks accidents
A boat crash that left eight people injured Saturday at the Lake of the Ozarks was the latest incident this summer to serve as a reminder of safety concerns at the popular vacation destination.
Since Memorial Day, at least three people, including one child, have died while at the lake. All three of them drowned, including a 6-year-old who died earlier this month after trying to jump onto a floating lily pad without a life jacket on.
There have also been at least 13 people who were seriously hurt on the lake since April, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Most were hurt in boat collisions and one was seriously injured when a boat exploded and sank on the lake in June. Another person was less seriously hurt in the explosion.
“It’s really important, just to be safe, common sense is very important,” Douglas Beck, a spokesperson for the Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council, a nonprofit that promotes boating and water safety. “It’s up to the individual to take responsibility for and be accountable for their actions.”
The Lake of the Ozarks is often listed as one of the most dangerous lakes in the country for boating and drowning accidents. U.S. Coast Guard statistics recorded 61 boating accidents on the lake last year.
The lake, a recreational hub on a reservoir about 146 miles southeast of Kansas City, averages up to 12 million visitors each year. Many of them are new to water and boater safety, which can be a dangerous combination leading to severe boating and drowning accidents. according to The Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council’s blog.
In the past two years, there has been a slight decrease in the number of boating and drowning deaths on the lake. In 2021, there were 15 boating and drowning fatalities. In 2022, 11 were reported.
What causes these accidents?
A statewide report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol found that in 2021, failure to keep a proper lookout was the lead cause of crashes on the water. When on the water, boaters can designate a lookout to alert them of any dangers coming from any direction.
Rough water conditions and impaired operators were also two major causes of boat crashes in Missouri in 2021, according to the report. More than half of the 234 crashes in 2021, involved inexperienced operators with no boater education.
“Inattentiveness to boaters, that is one of the main causes [for crashes]. They may be busy observing other things, talking with people, and then an incident [can] occur,” Beck said.
How to avoid boat crashes and drownings?
In general, Beck said that people on the water should be just as attentive when operating a boat as they are when driving.
Beck said that boat operators should consider taking a boating course before hitting the water and have a designated driver if their group plans to drink. If people do drink while operating a boat, they could get a ticket for boating while intoxicated.
Most importantly, people should also wear a life jacket for added safety. Missouri law requires each person onboard a water vessel to wear a life jacket approved by the United States Coast Guard. Beck suggests that people avoid standing up in boats as they do not have seat belts so one major bump could throw someone overboard.
“We encourage everyone to wear a life jacket. That’s the biggest thing,” Beck said. “Wear your life jackets. Set a good example, just like you wear a seat belt in the car–it should be just common practice.”
The water safety council hosts seminars and other events for people who are interested in learning more about operating a boat and other boating rules and regulations. If you do come into trouble while on the water call the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s water patrol by dialing *55 or call 1-800-525-5555.
“I can’t overemphasize that it is important to become familiar with the boat that you’re in,” he said.