Three Groomsmen Among Four Killed in Wisconsin Boat Collision
- Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:31am by
Scott Baker
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three groomsmen celebrating a weekend wedding were among four people killed in a boat collision on a Wisconsin river that also left the groom-to-be hospitalized, officials said Sunday.
The bodies of two Minnesota men missing since the Friday night crash were pulled from the river Sunday, Chippewa County Undersheriff Eugene Gutsch said. Two other men were pronounced dead earlier.
Six people — including groom-to-be Leo Pohl of Buffalo, Minn., and his groomsmen — were on a pontoon-like Princecraft boat when it collided with a speedboat carrying two people about 9:45 p.m. Friday, Gutsch said. Pohl, who was to have been married Saturday, remained hospitalized Sunday. One of those killed was believed to be his brother.
“It’s a very tragic event all the way around,” Gutsch said. “Not only because there are four fatalities, but the circumstances of one boat containing a wedding party, and the next day is supposed to be the most joyous day of one’s life — and this, I’m sure, has changed that forever.”
Gutsch said Pohl’s bride was not on the boat and, to his knowledge, the wedding did not happen.
The driver of the speedboat, Mark Michels, 50, of Eau Claire, Wis., was killed on impact, after which the boat circled out of control until it ran aground. His passenger, Carol Oller, 49, of Hayward, Wis., was severely injured and remained hospitalized Sunday, Gutsch said.
Three passengers on the larger boat also were killed. Matthew Overhulser, 28, of Eau Claire, was found dead Friday. The bodies of Luke Pohl, 25, of Elk River, Minn., and Matthew Simonson, 28, of Brooklyn Park, Minn., were found Sunday morning.
Pohl’s body was found by a kayaker downstream from the crash site, and search teams found Simonson’s body near the crash site a short time later, Gutsch said.
The driver of the larger boat, a 56-year-old Eau Claire man, was arrested after the crash but later released, Gutsch said. An investigation was expected to take months.
Gutsch said the crash happened north of a heavily used recreation area called Riverview Park, near Two Taverns and Two Waters bars. The speedboat had been at a bar, Gutsch said, but authorities did not immediately know whether the wedding party was coming from.
Gutsch said none of the people involved were wearing life jackets.
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quinteastwood
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:26pmMy prayers go out to the victims and their families….
It’s time for the American People to take back our Country and stop cowering in fear.Posting without action will get us nowhere.Are we so worried about losing our material things?Are there not citizens out there that will put something on the line to stand against this tyrannical government and the Dictator we have in office.
Glenn Beck said that we must be prepared to give up everything.I see a very small amount of citizens ready to do that.
If the people who post here are genuinely fed up with BIG BROTHER telling us what kind of light bulbs we can buy,how much energy we can use the time to act is now.
This farce in DC about the debt ceiling talks is worthy of an Academy Award.The lies they told to the American public that there would be a World Wide financial collapse if the debt ceiling wasn’t raise by 4:PM on Sunday.Yea how did that prediction turn out…lol.Now Obama is going on TV to tell the American People MORE LIES.If you really want to make a difference and kick out this tryrannical government go to http://youtu.be/zbL-zpOkaCI and let’s make a difference people.
As Glenn Beck said “ you must be prepared to give up everything” Stand UNITED against tyranny.UNITED we are strong DIVIDED(which they want) we are weak.
God Bless all the Patriots who answer this call.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 2:27pmWhat a heartbreaking accident! So much sorrow for family & friends of the deceased. I hope & pray that those who are injured heal quickly, both physically & emotionally.
Report Post »kevin2b
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 1:57pmyou can not fix stupid; dont drink and drive a boat ;now families are ruined forever
Report Post »junkmaninohio
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 5:06pmLife is tough but it‘s even tougher when you’re stupid. You said it well.
Report Post »sensibleadult
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:14pmWhy not just don’t drink, period?
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 1:22pmVery sad. Happens a lot more than you know :( I’d have to agree with the armchair speculators that this was the fault of the faster more agile speed vessel. Pontoons are hard to turn and unless its a private craft with some twin outboards it would not have been going all that fast either.
What a terrible way to start a future together……
Report Post »RED-DAWN
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 12:39pmI don’t know which boat was at fault, I wasn’t there. One thing I do know, NOBODY EVER WALKS AWAY FROM A BOATING ACCIDENT! You always have to swim a bit first.
Report Post »smellycat
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 2:34pmNice!
Report Post »PAPPY72
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:36amI grew up in this area. I thought it was curious that the stories seem to imply that the “Pontoon type” boat collided with the speadboat. I‘m pretty sure it’s ALWAYS the other way around, and the facts will eventually show that. I know someone who lives right where the accident happened and was there at the time. He said the “Pontoon type” boat was cut in half in the collision.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:56amalways pay attention to the other boat traffic; especially at night! it doesn’t matter if the other boat is the one being reckless, you get the heck out of the way.
Report Post »o2nine17
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:32amDrunk driving, in a car or boat always seems to have same result, innocent people will pay for a idiot’s bad decision. Poor bride, her future and many other’s has been damaged forever.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:25am@Captain…Sir, it appears that you are jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in. We don’t know what the condition was of both boat operators. Granted they weren’t very smart for not wearing PFDs. The rule on my boat is “If the boat is underway, everybody wears a PFD.
Report Post »SyndicateA1
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:56amReally? The ‘speeding pontoon boat’ caused the accident? Want to wager a small sum on that ?
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:19amThe legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they called “Gitche Gumee.”
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 1:20pmAnd all that remains is the faces and the names
Report Post »of the wives and the sons and the daughters…….
The_Hut_In_Co
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:22pmI think Lightfoot was singing about Lake Superior, and the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. 11/75. Not the Chip. River in Wisconsin.
Report Post »WhiteHorse
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:16amI live on the Wisconsin River, and we’re near where it goes into the Mississippi. Boating accidents are very rare. I’m guessing that since this was an evening outing, and so many were killed, that not only was speed involved, but I’d bet liquor as well, and throw in a good dose of bad judgement to top it off. As accidents do happen, boats are required to have proper lighting on them in the dark. This shouldn’t have happened.
Report Post »captainbars
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:08amWe all know what they were doing; it’s the stupid tradition someone started of having a “bachelor party” before the wedding, that‘s why the bride wasn’t there. The past 20 yrs or so, women starting having their own version of it. I’m so sorry these men lost their lives. I still can’t comprehend the need for such shenanigans before the wedding; it‘s as if they’re regretting leaving the single life. People who do dangerous, stupid things the day before the wedding, or get smashing drunk, performing the ceremony with a hang-over, need to seriously meditate about whether or not marriage is what they want. I’ve heard of people who had sex with strangers during their bachelor/bachelorette parties. If it grieves you that much to leave the single life, you shouldn’t marry; they’re dishonoring their partner & breaking the vows before its spoken.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:22am@Captain…Sir, it appears that you are making a judgement of guilt before all the facts are in. Not all “bachelor parties” are as you describe. Additionally, we don’t know anything about the condition of both boat operators. Granted, they weren’t exactly smart by not wearing PFDs. The rule on my boat is “if the boat is underway, everyone wears a PFD”
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:23amA “bachelor party” on a pontoon boat? Out for a hot night of…fishing? If it was a fall wedding…..a bow hunting “bachelor party”? What ever happened to strip clubs?
Report Post »Christabel
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:44amCaptain, How can you even come to a conclusion like that? Fishing sounds like a good idea. It’s a shame it ended in tragedy, but really? Come on.
Report Post »String Bean
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 8:21am@TEDDRUNK
Hey, Ted? Just think. When Chris Dodd gets down there you’ll be able to make your waitress sandwiches again.
Yup-yup-yo-o-o-o !
Whoopa ! ! !
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:11amString
Report Post »Chris “Another friend of Angelo” Dodd is just another thief in the DEMOCRAT party. Any sandwich ( With the murderer Ted Kennedy dead ) made by Dodd will have to be a wrap, as Ted was the other piece of moldy bread. Just ask Mary Jo Kopecne, but you can’t ask her because Ted killed her.
SyndicateA1
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 9:53amA pontoon boat (normally) will not go much over 15-20 mph. Most only reach speeds of around 10-15 mph. If you think the pontoon boat was the one that caused the accident due to excessive speed in low light conditions, you need your head examined.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 11:35amHey Synd…Some pontoon boats have large enough engines to pull water skiers.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:07amSeems to be a lot more of this happening these days even after we know better now than we did 50-60 years ago.
Foundations are splitting, people. Is yours secure?
Report Post »heywhat1
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:02amas a boater, why dont we have head lights such as cars do when underway? no more laws!!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:39amAs a boater you should know that headlights ruin any night vision. Have you ever tried to follow navigation lights, to stay in the proper channel? The cause of this accident will probably be alcohol and speed related. Very sad.
Report Post »Christabel
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:48amAlthough it sounds like a good idea for a headlight, It would distract from the nav lights and cause disorientation. It is recommended that boaters take a course on navigation rules. Speeding or alchohol or both may have been a cause here unfortunately.
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:51amSerious boating accident………that is why life jackets should be mandatory when boating.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:23amJust like motorcycle helmets, life jackets are a choice, and no one should dictate that they be worn. Common sense should tell people that. Most of the pontoon boats we see in FL are used for slow cruising, not for speed; so then the question arises whether the running lights were lit on both boats, how much alcohol was involved and the speed the motor boat was traveling. Life jackets may not have saved any of those young men.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 6:43amEven during times of excitement, If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven?
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:25amWhy do I have to die?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on July 25, 2011 at 7:51amThe real question is, why do you have to live? What is the puropose of life? To who are you a slave? To who do you bring glory? The Holy Bible is filled with historical facts as to why we should place our trust in God.
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