A beautiful summery day turned to tragedy for one Utah family following a fatal boating accident. In addition, a boating accident that took place Monday on Bear Lake in Utah has killed a man and three children. The accident happened when 46-year-old, Lance Capener decided to take his ski boat out with his wife, two daughters and three of their friends.
The weather was perfect that day, and optimal for a day of boating. Yet tragically later that day friends and family became worried when they didn’t return, and reported them missing around 6 p.m. Around that time, temperatures dropped drastically, and the wind picked up to about 51 mph around Garden City. Likewise, the wind storm that swept up over the nearby mountains caused giant rippling waves to the area.
The boaters were all eventually found in the freezing water, and all seven were wearing life jackets. The boaters were in the water for about two hours even in the 10-foot waves and faced severe hypothermia risks. All were pulled from the water, but sadly Lance died shortly after at the lake. Both of Carpener’s daughters, 13-year-old Kelsey and 7-year-old, Kilee as well as one of the friends were flown to a nearby hospital but all died on Tuesday. Wife and mom, Kathy Carpener was hospitalized and treated as well as 14-year-old family friends Tiffany Stoker and Tylnn Tilley. Luckily both teens have been released from the hospital and are expected to survive.
If you or a loved one were injured in a boating accident, the skilled St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth would like to help you. Please contact us today for a free consultation.