Investigators Search for Cause of Upstate New York Tour Boat Accident That Killed 20
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (AP) -- The passengers aboard a tour boat that capsized on Lake George, killing 20 people, were sitting in portable, plastic seats that slid sharply to one side of the vessel just before it flipped over, authorities said Monday.
Wayne Bennett, State Police superintendent, said that investigators still do not know what initially caused the Ethan Allen to tip. But he said survivors reported that the unfastened plastic, slat benches moved rapidly to one side before the boat went over in the chilly mountain lake.
The captain of the boat told authorities it was hit by waves from at least one other vessel and turned over as he tried to steer out of them, authorities said earlier Monday. The boat flipped so fast that none of the 47 passengers could put on a life jacket. Eight people were hospitalized.
There was no immediate confirmation that another boat that could have kicked up waves was in the area, and survivors were giving investigators differing versions of what happened, authorities said.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press
Related Articles:
