Boating Accidents: A Story That Went From Fun to Tragedy

How quickly can a fun day on the water turn into tragedy? You might be surprised at how fast a boating accident can happen when you least expect it. 

In an instant, a fun trip to the lake turned into a life-changing tragedy for the Parker family when Angie, the youngest of the three sisters, was struck by a motorboat. Keep reading to learn about what happened and how it impacted her family. You'll also learn how to avoid an accident – or what to do if one happens – while on a boat this season.  

Careless Boater Behavior Led to Tragedy

Angie was preparing to knee board when she was hit just yards away from her family and boat.

"The lake was extra busy that day with people tubing and skiing every which way you looked. The boat that hit Angie was full of teenagers, taking turns towing each other on inner tubes. We had seen them drive by a couple of times and thought nothing of it," said Jill Parker, Angie's older sister. 

"As it turns out, they were doing zigzags, trying to throw each other off the inner tubes. We were actually watching them rip around the lake and saw the riders thrown from their tube. The boat picked up speed, looping around to get the swimmers." 

She continues, "Of everywhere the driver could have gone on the entire lake, he headed straight for our boat. He was too occupied looking at his swimmers to see what was ahead of him. Right before he T-boned our boat, he saw us and reacted, missing our boat but running directly over Angie. 

There Was Nothing They Could Do

Jill says, "There was absolutely nothing we could do, he was going way too fast and simply wasn't paying attention. Horrifying, it's one of those things you think will never happen."

Angie suffered massive head injuries and lost her left arm above the elbow in the accident. She later died after being removed from life support. 

Angie's other sister, Lisa, recalled that terrible day.

"What a horrible experience, just tragic. As luck would have it, I finally met my long-lost sisters. I was adopted, and 30 years later, Jill and Angie found me. It was such a blast visiting them and getting to know them better. 

Our families had so much fun together. Then, right before my eyes, the sister I had just gotten to know was again taken out of my life due to someone else's rash decision."

This accident is an ugly reminder of how fast things can go wrong on the water. 

To make matters worse, the juvenile operator who caused Angie's death hadn't attended a boater safety course. In the wake of this sad story, it's important to understand how you can prevent injury or death when operating a boat or personal watercraft.

How to Avoid Boating Accidents

At Boat-Ed, we never want anyone to experience a day on the water like Angie and her family did that day. So, we provide state-approved boater safety courses to help everyone stay safe when operating a boat. 

There are numerous steps you can take to become safer on the water. Start by watching this video.

What did you learn? Here are two key takeaways to help you avoid a boating accident. 

1. Take a Boater Safety Course

For starters, make sure you take a boater safety course and get your boater education card or boating license. 

The official safety courses through Boat-Ed are state-specific and cover the information you need to know to stay safe on the water. 

2. Slow Down

Next, don't go too fast, pay attention to your surroundings, and avoid taking unnecessary risks. While those might seem like common-sense rules, the incident reports suggest otherwise. 

After all, it isn't just your life on the line but others' lives, as well.

"While accidents are never going to go away, there are a few steps that people can follow to minimize risk. The first is to become educated; people simply don't know what they don't know. Certain things aren't always intuitive, and having a basic knowledge of safe operation will benefit any operator," said Brian Rehwinkel, boater education coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

"This accident is like many others; the operator failed to maintain situational awareness. It's important for operators to pay attention to their full surroundings, all 360 degrees. Being observant and proactive allows boat operators to avoid accidents, but when people fail to pay attention to their surroundings, they get into major trouble."

At the end of the day, accidents like the Parker family experienced are preventable. It's up to each individual operator to receive the proper boating education and hit the water with a safety-conscious mind. Just remember, one bad decision can ruin a great day on the water.

Help Prevent Boating Accidents With a Boater Safety Course

We don't want to scare you from getting on the water in your boat this season. However, we hope this story highlights the potential for tragedy that can happen when boater inexperience and poor decisions take place on the water. 

Passing a boater safety course through Boat-Ed can help prevent boating accidents and ensure a safer time on the water every season. Our courses are state-approved and comply with state requirements for boat operators to acquire a license and get on the water. 

You can also take your course and pass your exam online! So, start this boating season with safety as a priority. Find the course for your state and start learning. 

Originally published May 15, 2013. Content updated April 4, 2024.