Powerboat Crash Death in Tulsa
 

Associated Press - July 29, 2007 1:15 AM ET

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - One Tulsan was killed and another had his leg amputated after a high-powered boat ran over the top of a pontoon boat the victims were in on Lake Skiatook.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. last night near Hominy Creek Bridge and Oklahoma 20, just west of Skiatook.

Trooper Kera Philippi says the pontoon boat had five people aboard when it was struck by a so-called "cigarette boat," a V-hulled power boat used for racing.

Killed was Dean Gildersleeve. Philippi says the crash amputated the leg of Tom Clayton. The victim's ages weren't available.

Clayton was taken to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, where he was undergoing surgery late last night.

Neither the power boat's driver nor others on the pontoon boat were injured.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=6855151

Very sorry to have to read this. My condolences to all involved.

Sorry to hear this. RIP and get well soon.

Skiatook is a small lake and I doubt the boat was a Cig. That lake has more 20-25 ft boats than anything else. Very sad.

This is the first I have heard but most of the boats on Skiatook are pontoons, bow riders and fishing, like Scott said, a 23 footer is a BIG boat on that lake so I doubt it was a cig.

Nice avatar.:D

Very sad.

Does anyone have any more info on this? I sold my 38 Scarab to a guy in Oklahoma city that, I think was keeping it in or near Tulsa.

Rip

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=132560

Skiatook - A Tulsa man is dead and another is severely wounded after a pontoon boat was struck by a high-powered racing boat on Lake Skiatook Saturday evening.


It happened at about 7:30 p.m. near Hominy Creek Bridge, just west of Skiatook. There were five people on the pontoon boat when the other boat, a so-called 'cigarette boat', operated by 33-year-old Jason Barthel of Tulsa, struck the boat in the right rear.

Fifty-seven-year-old Dean Gildersleeve of Tulsa was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple injuries. Another man, 54-year-old Tom Clayton of Tulsa, was rushed to St. John Medical Center after losing his leg in the accident. He was listed in stable condition and was undergoing surgery.

A 19-year-old Bixby woman suffered a minor ankle injury, but refused treatment. Two other passengers on the pontoon boat and all four on the cigarette boat were not injured.

Barthel told investigators he didn't see the pontoon boat until the bow of his boat began to lower as he planed out. He said he took evasive action as soon as he saw the boat, but couldn't avoid the collision.

The crash remains under investigation.

It's the second collision on Lake Skiatook this month. On July 14th, two people were injured when a ski boat and a personal watercraft collided.

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0707/443237.html

Very sad, very close to home.

There are a few Cigs on the lake along with Baja's, eliminators, formulas all over 30'. I have no idea what specific boat was involved, but the lake is starting to get excessively over crowded with non-experienced boaters.

As are ALL lakes it seems.. This is a terrible incident, everyone send up prayers for everyone involved.

It's terrible to hear that kind of news. I'm just glad it wasn't my old Scarab. I think she's on Lake Eufaula. Prayers.

:(

Just saw the boat on the news it was a 31 Cigarette.

Looked like an older original boat.

Lets hope the media doesn't put to mutch spin on this, and keep the families of the victims in our prayers.

thats terrible----

that lake is starting to get more and more boats on it since all the development going on. More of the boats are getting bigger and on that lake theres not much room.

Fin

Saw the news report on Sunday morning, very sad. Can't speculate on anything but Skiatook lake is a small place and mainly built for pontoon style boats and slow cruising. I wouldn't run a performance boat of any kind out there.
RIP