Accident at Cumberland Poker Run
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09-07-2008, 12:01 AM
#112
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Before anyone else goes on assuming it was a spectator that caused the accident you need to go to this thread here and read it. The guy who pulled the boat to Jamestown from the accident has some good info for you.http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view...d=20824&page=3
09-07-2008, 12:04 AM
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Details about the crash, posted on lakecumberland.com by Marine Assist, who recovered the vessel and whose son witnessed the crash:
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The fellow was attempting to pass the boat in the lead. The Skater came down "wrong" on the starboard rear and began to chine walk. The starboard bow dug in to the water, which broke the hole throught the hull you see. That water forced through the starboard sponson like a cannon and blew out the transom. The weight and drag caused the boat to flip over, throw the occupants out and take on water. It partially sank, leaving only 12 feet of the bow above the water.
We put a line on the bow, in case the boat tried to go to the bottom. We then towed it very gingerly over to the bank, trying to keep what little air that was in the hull, in there. We raised it using 5 airbags, once it was at the shore. The boat had to be towed on the airbags because the hull is so badly damaged there is no way it will float. There is major structural damage, as you may have guessed.
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MA posted some photos of the recovery on the following thread...
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20824
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The fellow was attempting to pass the boat in the lead. The Skater came down "wrong" on the starboard rear and began to chine walk. The starboard bow dug in to the water, which broke the hole throught the hull you see. That water forced through the starboard sponson like a cannon and blew out the transom. The weight and drag caused the boat to flip over, throw the occupants out and take on water. It partially sank, leaving only 12 feet of the bow above the water.
We put a line on the bow, in case the boat tried to go to the bottom. We then towed it very gingerly over to the bank, trying to keep what little air that was in the hull, in there. We raised it using 5 airbags, once it was at the shore. The boat had to be towed on the airbags because the hull is so badly damaged there is no way it will float. There is major structural damage, as you may have guessed.
-----
MA posted some photos of the recovery on the following thread...
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20824
09-07-2008, 01:40 AM
#114
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I believe a friend of mine picked up Kevin after the crash, and his partner was the paramedic. They were in a yellow 36' Fountain....
I remember back in 2006 I walked up to Kevin's boat and took a picture of Pammy's deck. When I walked away a few of the guys (I'm sure one was the owner) spoke about the graphic to me and laughed. They were all really nice people.
I've been attending this poker run for just a few years, but it's exactly like Gino stated above. Very rough, and lots of spectators doing things they shouldn't be doing. Maybe spectators didn't cause this, but whether they did or not, they need to learn to stay out of the way and off to the side......
Cumberline, I've seen some of your posts over the years on LC.com. Glad you came over here to tell the story.
RIP Kevin!
I remember back in 2006 I walked up to Kevin's boat and took a picture of Pammy's deck. When I walked away a few of the guys (I'm sure one was the owner) spoke about the graphic to me and laughed. They were all really nice people.
I've been attending this poker run for just a few years, but it's exactly like Gino stated above. Very rough, and lots of spectators doing things they shouldn't be doing. Maybe spectators didn't cause this, but whether they did or not, they need to learn to stay out of the way and off to the side......
Cumberline, I've seen some of your posts over the years on LC.com. Glad you came over here to tell the story.
RIP Kevin!
09-07-2008, 04:37 AM
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Found this on lc.com
The larger boat in the top of this picture wrecked just a few minutes after this photo was made killing the driver and seriously injuring a passenger. Both men are from Indiana. (photo by Joey Hoover)
Saturday, September 6, 2008 -- One person was killed and another seriously injured in a boat wreck that occured only a few minutes after the first group of "go fast" boats departed State Dock this morning to start the annual "Poker Run on Lake Cumberland." WJRS News first reported this tragic event during our 12:05 p.m. Local Newscast. Russell County Coroner Larry Skaggs has confirmed that the boat's driver died from his injuries. The victim is identified as Kevin Sellers, age 47, of Indianapolis, IN. The passenger, Richard Craig Stump, of Greenwood, IN. is undergoing treatment at the Russell County Hospital. Law enforcement officers with the Ky. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife are still investigating the fatal boat crash which occured around 10:30 a.m. near "Difficulty Creek." According to one officer, the boat was traveling at approximately 130 m.p.h. when it went out of control and "barrel rolled." Both men were pulled from the water by spectators and were then tranported by a private boat and a F & W Patrol boat to the Jamestown Marina where they were met by two Russell County EMS units and then taken to the Russell County Hospital.
The picture above shows the first group of boats making the turn, heading toward "Difficulty Creek" less than two minutes after they departed from State Dock to officially start the "Poker Run." Coroner Skaggs says an autopsy will be performed on Sellers' body at the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfort on Sunday.
The larger boat in the top of this picture wrecked just a few minutes after this photo was made killing the driver and seriously injuring a passenger. Both men are from Indiana. (photo by Joey Hoover)
Saturday, September 6, 2008 -- One person was killed and another seriously injured in a boat wreck that occured only a few minutes after the first group of "go fast" boats departed State Dock this morning to start the annual "Poker Run on Lake Cumberland." WJRS News first reported this tragic event during our 12:05 p.m. Local Newscast. Russell County Coroner Larry Skaggs has confirmed that the boat's driver died from his injuries. The victim is identified as Kevin Sellers, age 47, of Indianapolis, IN. The passenger, Richard Craig Stump, of Greenwood, IN. is undergoing treatment at the Russell County Hospital. Law enforcement officers with the Ky. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife are still investigating the fatal boat crash which occured around 10:30 a.m. near "Difficulty Creek." According to one officer, the boat was traveling at approximately 130 m.p.h. when it went out of control and "barrel rolled." Both men were pulled from the water by spectators and were then tranported by a private boat and a F & W Patrol boat to the Jamestown Marina where they were met by two Russell County EMS units and then taken to the Russell County Hospital.
The picture above shows the first group of boats making the turn, heading toward "Difficulty Creek" less than two minutes after they departed from State Dock to officially start the "Poker Run." Coroner Skaggs says an autopsy will be performed on Sellers' body at the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfort on Sunday.
09-07-2008, 06:38 AM
#118
UPDATED 1 AM ET SUNDAY
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20826
The running of the 2008 Lake Cumberland Poker Run was called off Saturday, after a tragic accident happened shortly after the first flight of very high speed boats departed from State Dock on the first leg of the run toward Conley Bottom and Burnside Marinas.
According to reports, a 2003 Skater 36 catamaran based in Greenwood IN flipped on a boat wake while traveling at a speed of around 130 miles per hour. The pilot and passenger were pulled from the water by bystanders and water patrol, and rushed to the ramp at Jamestown Marina, where they were transferred to EMS ambulance and taken to the ER at Russell County Hospital in Russell Springs.
Russell County Coronor Larry Skaggs is reported by local radio WJRS-104.9 as confirming the driver, Kevin Sellers of the Indianapolis area, died from his injuries. A post on this forum says that he was unmarried with no children.
Sellers was quickly recovered after the crash and trained paramedics reportedly gave him continuous CPR on the way in. He may have had a serious neck injury. The passenger, Craig Stumpf, also from the Indianapolis area, reportedly suffered a possible broken knee and bruises from his ejection into the water, and was hospitalized but is reportedly recovering.
Witnesses say the crash occured when Sellers hit a wave/wake while trying to turn a corner as he chased a fast boat in front of him. According to a report from Marine Assist on this forum: "(Sellers) was attempting to pass the boat in the lead. The Skater came down 'wrong' on the starboard rear and began to chine walk. The starboard bow dug in to the water, which broke the hole throught the hull you see. That water forced through the starboard sponson like a cannon and blew out the transom. The weight and drag caused the boat to flip over, throw the occupants out and take on water. It partially sank, leaving only 12 feet of the bow above the water."
The boat was powered by twin Sterling 1150 HP engines and reportedly capable of speeds up to 150 mph.
The incident happened in the vicinity of Difficulty Creek. This is around the bend east-bound and uplake from State Dock and Wolf Creek. It is the first larger creek section of the lake on the south shore just as the lake turns left to head east. The next lake section from that point is Harmon Creek.
The rest of the actual "run" was called off. The poker cards were drawn on the dock by the registered participants.
Several of the fast boats in the first flight made high speed runs up the lake and back, unaware of the incident. The majority of the large fleet of fast boats were not started. There were thousands of spectators on the shorelines of the lake as well as thousands of boats with spectators along the course to watch.
Reportedly the crash was captured on video, which may be used to reconstruct the incident.
There are a number of photos taken by witnesses and others, including photos of the boat recovery, on the following thread...
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20824
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20826
The running of the 2008 Lake Cumberland Poker Run was called off Saturday, after a tragic accident happened shortly after the first flight of very high speed boats departed from State Dock on the first leg of the run toward Conley Bottom and Burnside Marinas.
According to reports, a 2003 Skater 36 catamaran based in Greenwood IN flipped on a boat wake while traveling at a speed of around 130 miles per hour. The pilot and passenger were pulled from the water by bystanders and water patrol, and rushed to the ramp at Jamestown Marina, where they were transferred to EMS ambulance and taken to the ER at Russell County Hospital in Russell Springs.
Russell County Coronor Larry Skaggs is reported by local radio WJRS-104.9 as confirming the driver, Kevin Sellers of the Indianapolis area, died from his injuries. A post on this forum says that he was unmarried with no children.
Sellers was quickly recovered after the crash and trained paramedics reportedly gave him continuous CPR on the way in. He may have had a serious neck injury. The passenger, Craig Stumpf, also from the Indianapolis area, reportedly suffered a possible broken knee and bruises from his ejection into the water, and was hospitalized but is reportedly recovering.
Witnesses say the crash occured when Sellers hit a wave/wake while trying to turn a corner as he chased a fast boat in front of him. According to a report from Marine Assist on this forum: "(Sellers) was attempting to pass the boat in the lead. The Skater came down 'wrong' on the starboard rear and began to chine walk. The starboard bow dug in to the water, which broke the hole throught the hull you see. That water forced through the starboard sponson like a cannon and blew out the transom. The weight and drag caused the boat to flip over, throw the occupants out and take on water. It partially sank, leaving only 12 feet of the bow above the water."
The boat was powered by twin Sterling 1150 HP engines and reportedly capable of speeds up to 150 mph.
The incident happened in the vicinity of Difficulty Creek. This is around the bend east-bound and uplake from State Dock and Wolf Creek. It is the first larger creek section of the lake on the south shore just as the lake turns left to head east. The next lake section from that point is Harmon Creek.
The rest of the actual "run" was called off. The poker cards were drawn on the dock by the registered participants.
Several of the fast boats in the first flight made high speed runs up the lake and back, unaware of the incident. The majority of the large fleet of fast boats were not started. There were thousands of spectators on the shorelines of the lake as well as thousands of boats with spectators along the course to watch.
Reportedly the crash was captured on video, which may be used to reconstruct the incident.
There are a number of photos taken by witnesses and others, including photos of the boat recovery, on the following thread...
http://lakecumberland.com/forum/view....php?tid=20824
09-07-2008, 07:21 AM
#120
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Found this on lc.com
The picture above shows the first group of boats making the turn, heading toward "Difficulty Creek" less than two minutes after they departed from State Dock to officially start the "Poker Run." Coroner Skaggs says an autopsy will be performed on Sellers' body at the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfort on Sunday.[/I]
The picture above shows the first group of boats making the turn, heading toward "Difficulty Creek" less than two minutes after they departed from State Dock to officially start the "Poker Run." Coroner Skaggs says an autopsy will be performed on Sellers' body at the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfort on Sunday.[/I]
