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RiverLiver Male

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Posted: Mar. 27 2005,8:15 pm

Post # 1

This was posted over on HB.

LAKE HAVASU CITY - An underwater search for 27-year-old Michael Christopherson and 25-year-old Patrick Wilburn was conducted all day Sunday after a boat collision near Black Meadow Landing.

"They are looking for the two missing parties in the wreckage," said Sgt. Tim Smith, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "There are about four to six boats out there with about four to six divers."

At about 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Christopherson, Wilburn and 23-year-old Corey Christopherson, from Utah, were traveling southbound on Lake Havasu in a 25-foot Cheetah boat.

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department report, the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed and became airborne due to the rough water and high winds.

Their boat fell apart when it hit the water nose first.

Michael Christopherson and Wilburn were not located after an extensive search was conducted Saturday.

Corey Christopherson was found clinging to a piece of the boat that was floating and was airlifted to Saint Joseph's Hospital with critical injuries.

"He was going into surgery as of about 9:30 p.m. (Saturday)," Smith said.

The collision is under investigation by San Bernardino County's Boating Accident Investigation Team (BAIT).

It is unclear who was driving the boat and BAIT's preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol and or drugs were a factor in this collision.

Don't Be a Hater

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Posted: Mar. 27 2005,8:18 pm

Post # 2

Reminds us all to try to be safe.....................

It's a whole new year!

Where my girls at?

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RiverLiver Male

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Posted: Mar. 27 2005,8:24 pm

Post # 3

preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol and or drugs were a factor in this collision.

:stupid

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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: Mar. 27 2005,9:26 pm

Post # 4

You can see my responce on Hotboat... :beat

In short... this shit is getting old... :angry

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GoFastRacer Male

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,5:03 am

Post # 5

Quote (Sleek-Jet @ Mar. 27 2005,10:26 pm)

You can see my responce on Hotboat... Â :beat

In short... this shit is getting old... Â :angry

Yep, but it ain't going to stop!.. :angry

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shueman

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,5:30 am

Post # 6

Article in the San Bernadino Sun this AM....

Havasu boating accident leaves 2 missing, 1 injured

By Megan Blaney, Staff Writer

LAKE HAVASU - Two men were missing and a third was in critical condition at a hospital after a boating accident.
The accident occurred Saturday and the search for the two missing men continued Sunday.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department dive teams scoured the bottom of the lake Sunday looking for 27-year-old Michael Christophersen and 25-year-old Patrick Wilburn, who are presumed dead, police said. The two missing men are from Utah and are believed to be visiting a friend in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

A third man, Corey Christophersen, was rescued and taken to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, where he was in critical but stable condition Sunday evening. Rescue teams found the 23-year-old Utah resident clinging to a floating piece of the boat, according to the press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The rest of the boat is thought to have sunk, Lt. Richie Sloma with the Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Police Department said Sunday.

The owner of the boat told police his three friends from Utah were on the boat, but police have not ruled out the possibility of other victims.

"They're not sure how many people were on board,' Sloma said. "There could be other people they picked up along the way. Sort of a 'Hey, let's go for a boat ride' situation.'

Witnesses reported seeing the boat, a 25-foot Cheetah, traveling very fast over high waves on the California side of Lake Havasu near Black Meadow Landing on Saturday, police said. It is unclear who was driving the boat. Witnesses said the boat became airborne and landed in the water nose first, breaking apart.

Extremely high winds and three-foot to four-foot whitecaps were buffeting Lake Havasu at the time of Saturday's accident, which occurred around 5:15 p.m.

The Sheriff's Department's preliminary investigation showed alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, according to the press release.

Sloma said the victims probably were not wearing life jackets. Â Life jackets are only required for children under 12 years old, he said.

The San Bernardino County's Boating Accident Investigation Team is investigating the accident and Lake Havasu City Police Department and the Mojave County, Ariz., Sheriff's Department responded to the scene and helped with the recovery effort.

Â High Speed, Under Influence, No Jackets, Owner not driving..... it's like I'm reading a fictional scenario....

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shueman

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,5:31 am

Post # 7

Quote (Sleek-Jet @ Mar. 27 2005,9:26 pm)

You can see my responce on Hotboat... Â :beat

In short... this shit is getting old... Â :angry

EXACTLY..!!

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procraftkev Male

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,5:46 am

Post # 8

Im sorry to hear this happend,I for one would never let anybody take my boat out with me not being there. :cool

Kickn it @ Havasu!

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GlassMan

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,12:33 pm

Post # 9

Unfortunately, Shue, This is no fictional scenario! It's Deja vu that is downright stupid!

Too many people, too many times. What is it going to take? :angry

I'm sorry, all the remorse in the world doesn't cut it. Those guys are Dead!

If WE don't stop it, it may just ruin boating for all of us! Don't let ANYBODY drive drunk or stoned or whatever! :peace

It's a fact of Life:

After Monday and Tuesday, even the Calendar says : WTF .......

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Ziggy

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,1:15 pm

Post # 10

Quote (shueman @ Mar. 28 2005,4:31 am)

Quote (Sleek-Jet @ Mar. 27 2005,9:26 pm)

You can see my responce on Hotboat... Â :beat

In short... this shit is getting old... Â :angry

EXACTLY..!!

People just don't use their common sense in conditions like that...or just choose not to heed their own mental warnings.
Its sad no matter how/why, lives were lost.

Ain't life Grand? Treat it that way.
The Love of my Life, Jan.

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Duke

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,1:29 pm

Post # 11

That is some crazy stuff

Its always sad to hear about people getting hurt or paying the ultimate price.

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shueman

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,7:00 pm

Post # 12

Update:
San Bernardino County, Calif., Sheriff's deputies continued their search Monday for the bodies of two boaters believed killed Saturday. A third boater was reported in critical but stable condition.

Sgt. Tim Smith said Monday morning that the bodies of Patrick Wilburn, 25, and Michael Christopherson, 27, both of Utah, had still not been recovered, despite the use of helicopters and divers.

"We've found no bodies, although the boat's been raised," he said. "Today we expect a helicopter, several boats and eight or more divers."

Sgt. Phil Odom of the Needles, Calif., station said side-scan sonar was being used in the search.

But when the search was suspended late Monday afternoon, Chip Patterson, SBCSD public information officer, said the bodies had still not been recovered.

Patterson said it is still unclear who was driving the boat when it went out of control Saturday. The question of whether charges will be filed is still premature, he said.

Survivor Corey Christopherson, 23, who was found clinging to a floating piece of wreckage, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Hospital officials said Monday that he remains in intensive care, in critical but stable condition.

Authorities said the boat, a 25-foot Cheetah, was traveling at a high rate of speed when it became airborne because of high winds and choppy waters. It crashed nose first and broke up immediately.

The accident occurred about 6:15 p.m. Saturday near Black Meadow Landing on the south end of Lake Havasu.

According to the thread on HB, the boat was taken without the owner's permission...it was BRAND NEW...

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procraftkev Male

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Posted: Mar. 28 2005,7:28 pm

Post # 13

Thats to bad, I wonder if the owner is going to file a theft report. You know I feel bad for the familes of these people and for the boys involved, but you know so many wrong choices were made on there part.1.Taking a boat without permission possable owner could be sued. 2.Driving maybe BUI 3.Driving over there head. I shouldnt be like this but the more I read the more it pisses me off!

Kickn it @ Havasu!

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GoFastRacer Male

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Posted: Mar. 29 2005,5:21 am

Post # 14

Quote (Ziggy @ Mar. 28 2005,2:15 pm)

People just don't use their common sense in conditions like that...or just choose not to heed their own mental warnings.
Its sad no matter how/why, lives were lost.

It's kinda hard to use common sense when you can't hardly stand up to begin with!.. I'ts a shame lives has to be lost because of such bullshit!.. :angry

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Ziggy

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Posted: Mar. 29 2005,11:01 am

Post # 15

Quote (GoFastRacer @ Mar. 29 2005,4:21 am)

Quote (Ziggy @ Mar. 28 2005,2:15 pm)

People just don't use their common sense in conditions like that...or just choose not to heed their own mental warnings.
Its sad no matter how/why, lives were lost.

It's kinda hard to use common sense when you can't hardly stand up to begin with!.. I'ts a shame lives has to be lost because of such bullshit!.. :angry

You're so right...and it seems to be more prevelant in the younger generation who grew up with the high tech video games and a RESET button.. No reset buttons in real life though.

Thats just the kind of behavior that will ruin it for a lot of other people if it keeps going at this rate.

Ain't life Grand? Treat it that way.
The Love of my Life, Jan.

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14 replies since Mar. 27 2005,8:15 pm

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