Delta tragedy...Use caution and be safe!!!!!!!

[Charles]

Man Killed in San Joaquin River Crash
Written by Jason Kobely, Internet News Producer

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A man was killed in San Joaquin County after his personal watercraft collided with another on the Middle River Friday, San Joaquin County Sheriff's officials said.

The 32-year-old man was pulled from the water after the accident around 7:15 p.m. Friday near the Bacon Island Bridge and Bullfrog Landing, San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputy Dave Konecny said.

After the crash, swimmers were able to locate the victim and pull him to shore. Emergency personnel arrived and peformed CPR. The man was taken to San Joaquin County General Hospital where he died from his injuries.

The victim's name was not released pending family notification.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

[bassenvy]

that intersection is CRAZY... I don't know how many times I've sat and fished near there and watched some serious near misses. Talk about blind spots and big boats.

[Cooch]

With great dispair, we can chaulk one up to, "we told ya so!"

If there was ever an intersection on this River that is in dire need of a speed zone, the area at BullFrog is on the top of the list!!!!!!!!! Truly amazing more accidents haven't occured here, just a matter of time.

[Fish Chris]

Damn. Only 32 years old. That just really sucks.

Please, everyone be ultra-careful out there.

Fish

[BS'r]

I was in that area Friday night and heard the emergency teams coming in. The was a large number of watercrafts bunched in the middle river. The old river had wind and white caps.

I saw kids doing motocross moves on PWC's in the old river train bridge island and coming out the that busy intersection. Another group of kids we're seen blowing the 5 zone at Woodward ferry. (levee break)

The wake and ski boats are on a course and predictable, but the PWC are gettting way to fast and in-experienced operators are driving in most cases.

The levee's are not wide enough for these PWC's to run in packs, jumping wakes, with the other pleasure boaters who are towing skier/tubes.

I'm not sure what can be done, but I beleive the PWC operators should be at least 18 and have some type of boating certificate? Maybe a HP limit on the age of the driver.

We should also have more signs at ALL boat ramps explaining the rules of the water. I'm convinsed not everyone understands.

[swampy]

Iwas in the kickboat fishing piper and franks on sunday when my buddy (also in a kickboat ) was fishing the tule burm between franks and piper(on the tract side) when a pwc jumped the burm and missed my buddy by about 3 ft!These numbnutts are getting more stupid as time goes on and if I could've hooked this guy with a rattletrap i would've!
We heard a bunch of them tearing piper(only one of the biggest 5 mph zones around) up from the other side!Just unbeleivable!!
swampy

[bassindon69]

Weekends get so busy there on the river. I did Stockton Bass only 1 year and I don't know how many times (to many) I saw the bottom of a boat turning away from us. There are so many blind corners and some cut them just to damn close. Go easy guys when fishing out there. I know your boats go 70+ and you may drive safe but it only takes a guy to do something stupid and thats it. I hate to read this kind of thing.

Don.

[shifterpilot2001]

I fished the delta for the first time with cooch, and it didnt seem to be too busy that day, and I wasn't driving... so It wasnt too bad....But when we fished the WON Rookie tournament weekend before last, it was F...ng NUTS.... I have never seen such CHAOS in my life, and yes the jet skiers were the worst.... I couldnt believe the number of people blasting around blind corners at what I believed to be too fast... even bass boats...There was an instance that we were fishing a point between a channel and Mildred lake I believe... I could hear an offshore boat coming, and then he blew by us at like 70 - 80 mph.... HOLY $%&@.... my partner and I both looked at one another and were just blown away.... would be deadly if someone was going around that point on plane at the same time.....

And the floating debris...lol.... s&%@ everywhere in the morning....what a nerve wracking day it was for me...lol.... in one channel there was a god damn tree floating in the middle... like 16" around....

I give big props to you guys that fish that river on a regular basis and have done it safely for years.... my hats off to ya.... cause I personally think that place is nuts... lol...I have never seen anything like it till then.... I am sure I will get used to it, and I am glad I saw the chaos that day, cause it will keep me slowed down everytime to come.

mike

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

The simple solution for the problems on the Delta is for all users to use their heads for something other than holding their ears apart..I just do not intend to hold my breath waiting for it to happen..

mac

[ownfl4g]

I hardly even go over 40 when im out there haha, still a little new to the delta. As for blind corners....its just like driving a car for me im always ready for that drunk 17 year old to come flying around a corner in my lane

[Shad*Wizard]

I'm wearing one of those Cal-Trans safety vests when I go out on the delta in my kayak...The kayak is orange and red, but I still don't trust others to see me...That bright chartruese vest has got to help...I worry about these tube floaters though...I can manuever my kayak pretty well but a tube floater is at a big disadvantage...I would wear as much chartruese or bright orange as possible if I were float'n...Pretend you're deerhunting, it can't hurt and those vests are real light...

Also, by 10 a.m. or so, I'm off the water...Just too dangerous...I challenge all bait shops to get some vests in and make some extra sales in honor of safety...Tube floaters, you'll love them and they might save your life...Or go to Work World or whatever they call it, and pick them up there...Don't know what West Marine has, they look like they're up on the latest and check there too...

Safety First!!!

[bassenvy]

not sure how they'd do it with the tidal system but, they should have some kind of cones and marked signs in the water to remind people of the speed limits and blind areas.

[MIKE TREMONT]

I'm with You Bob, but I would take it even farther than just PWC's.
There are just to many boats and inexperience out on the water.

I used to race PWC's. It was a blast and still kind of miss it. I have seen some moronic stuff done on all kinds of boats.

My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. It's got to be horrible to go from extreme excitement and fun to complete horror in the blink of an eye.

[BASSNUTZ247]

they have banned these water rockets in some places and i think the delta is a place they should look at,two 70 mph seadoos make a big mess

[medfish]

It's worse than you think, I work down there and was second unit in to that. The PWC that he hit or hit him was his young son (14). His other son (8?) was on the back with him and is doing fine. thank goodness. We respond to the delta at least once a day during the summer weekends for water accidents, and at least once for medical problems. (drunks) One can never be to safe. and it is not only on the delta I work form time to time in Napa and we go to berry all the time. they now even have a unit stay up at the lake on the weekends. So just be careful and be alert to whats going on around you go slow and get home late but get home. Medfish

[bassenvy]

damn that's a hell of a story that's too bad.....I can't imagine having that on my conscience.

I see why you drive so slow now

[Dan McKenzie]

While I agree with most of what you said, I disagree entirely on a solution. Singling out a particular group opens the door to every other group to be banned for one reason or another. At best a ban is a double-edged sword.

Lets face it, there are already so many laws pertaining to operating vehicles in this state nobody can be that well informed.
What is needed is for law enforcment and the government agencies that fund them to be pushed into enforcing the laws already in place. I can make 5-6 trips or more on the Delta and never see a sherrif, you can go to many of the well known points of congestion on the river and never see a sherrif, why is that?

Why is enforcment on a waterway like the Delta not given a higher priority? I am not an owner of a jetski, never have been. I just think it leads down the wrong path, not all jetski owners are idiots, not all bass fishermen are curteous either. Call your county supervisors office and put pressure on them to better enforce the law, on the street as well as on the water.