Danville Police responded to a boating accident that occurred this morning on the Dan River.
At approximately 8:52 AM Police, Fire, and Rescue personnel responded to the Boat Docks 1820 Memorial Drive for a report of a boat crash.
The investigation revealed that two boats got into the Dan River from the Boat Docks 1820 Memorial Drive at approximately 7:00PM on July 23, 2011 and went upstream. Boat #1 was a red and white 17-foot Maiden Craft driven by a 37-year-old male with a 42-year-old female passenger, both Pittsylvania County residents. Boat #2 was a green 14-foot Sears Gamefisher driven by a 51-year-old male Pittsylvania County resident with a 41-year-old male Pittsylvania County resident and a 48-year-old male Danville City resident as passengers. After traveling approximately 4 miles upstream, at approximately 1:00AM on July 24, 2011 the Maiden Craft hit a rock and crashed. The male driver of the Maiden Craft was knocked out of the boat. The Gamefisher went to the aid of the Maiden Craft and the two occupants of the Maiden Craft got into the Gamefisher with its three occupants. As the Gamefisher was returning to shore it hit some rocks, sustained damage and started to take on water. Four of the occupants remained with the Gamefisher and used it as a flotation device. One of the occupants of the Gamefisher was able to swim to shore and get some assistance.
Prior to the assistance arriving at the Boat Docks 1820 Memorial Drive, a 37-year-old male Pittsylvania County resident put his white Sun Tracker boat in the Dan River, went upstream and was able to rescue the stranded boaters and tow the Gamefisher back to shore.
The 42-year-old female passenger of the Maiden Craft sustained a broken left arm, injuries to her right ribs and several abrasions to both of her legs. She was transported to the Danville Regional Medical Center by the Danville Life Savings Crew for treatment of her non-life threatening injuries. The 37-year-old male driver of the Maiden Craft suffered several lacerations to his face, upper body and feet, but he declined medical treatment.
The Maiden Craft sustained approximately $2,000.00 in damages and the Gamefisher sustained approximately $1,500.00 in damages.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is conducting the investigation of this boat crash and the investigation is on going.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Conservation Police Officer Eric Dotterer at (434) 250-7281.