October 02, 2005

Tour Boat Sinks in Lake George, 19 Die

(Lake George, New York) Dozens of senior citizens were onboard a 40-foot Shoreline Cruises tour boat when it flipped over on Lake George, about 50 miles north of Albany. The weather was clear, with the temperature in the 70s. Eyewitnesses say the glass-enclosed boat sank.

From PostStar.com:

Nineteen people were killed in a tour boat accident on Lake George today, according to Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland.

The Ethan Allen, a small cruise boat on the lake, was carrying 47 passengers this afternoon when the accident happened about 3 p.m. today.

According to Cleveland, the wake from the Mohican, a boat owned by Lake George Steamboat Company, swamped and flipped the glass-enclosed Ethan Allen.

The Glens Falls hospital declared a Code Yellow disaster alert to handle the injured. As of 5pm EDT, all passengers had been accounted for.


[Update 2030EDT]

Twenty-one people are now listed as having died when the Ethan Allen sank in approximately 70 feet of water. The only crew member onboard, Captain Richard Paris, survived. The estimated number of passengers was increased to 49 and it's reported that none pulled from the water were wearing life vests. Also, since those onboard were senior citizens, a number were in wheelchairs or required walkers.

The incident occurred about 200 yards from shore. An unconfirmed report states that it capsized after it hit the wake of a larger cruise boat. In my opinion, before this tragedy is history, some serious liability will be assigned for negligence or malfeasance.

Companion at Interested-Participant.

By at 05:00 PM | |