Accident at Cumberland Poker Run
09-07-2008 | 09:20 AM
#131
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 570
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From: CT
09-07-2008 | 09:53 AM
#133
Platinum Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,398
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Kevin was a great guy and very giving when it came to helping others I enjoyed the time I spent talking with him about boats, charities, and life in general. We were not super close friends but we were good boating friends and I will miss his enthusiasm for the sport we all love
I feel I need to tell this story as I think it had great irony in the wake of his death
In 2005 a 42’ Outerlimits was running in our poker run (Smoke On The Water) when it flipped over and 4 men were ejected. Two men survived and two perished at our event one body was never recovered.
Kevin sellers was one of the first boats at the accident site and immediately jumped from his boat into the cold lake Michigan waters to provide assistance.
Kevin helped the two men who were struggling in the water the best he could,and then tried to help with the body of one man floating unconscious. (as well as OU Want Some, MTI 42 and a few others ) Kevin acted heroic and with great concern for others with never giving a second thought to his exposure to fuel, cold water, and floating debris
Once the coast Guard arrived they took the body of Johnny Desusa (One of the men that perished) aboard there vessel, and then fished Kevin out of the cold waters onto there boat. By this time I had arrived at the accident site in our Cigarette. As we pulled up to the Coast Guard boat we informed them that I had two nurses aboard (My wife Cherie and her best friend Karen) and asked if they need there assistance The CG asked them to get aboard to help. At this point both girls went to the bow of our boat to be transferred to CG boat My wife stepped off and got on board the CG boat. Next was Karen, as she attempted to transfer from one boat to the other, the boats separated and Karen ended up falling in the water. At this moment it was not the CG that dove in to provide Karen with assistance, but was Kevin Sellers diving back in the cold water off of the CG boat to make sure Karen was ok, and helped her get on board the CG boat safely.
Kevin knew more than most, the risks involved with this sport, and has seen first hand the outcome of a high speed accident.
Kevin and I talked a few times about that day, and how he was affected by being involved in the SOTW rescue.
Kevin gave of his time to take the Make A Wish kids for rides and support of our event.
He gave of himself in helping to rescue at our event
He gave us all a smile with his enthusiasm
He gave us pause as we walked passed his eye catching boat
He gave his life doing what he loved almost more than anything else in life (Performance Boating)
I am sure when Kevin gets to the pearly gates the first thing he is going to want to know is where the boats are
God speed my friend your life here gave us all much joy and in your passing I am sure it will give us change
Marc Blondin
PRO LLC
Smoke On The Water Poker Run
I feel I need to tell this story as I think it had great irony in the wake of his death
In 2005 a 42’ Outerlimits was running in our poker run (Smoke On The Water) when it flipped over and 4 men were ejected. Two men survived and two perished at our event one body was never recovered.
Kevin sellers was one of the first boats at the accident site and immediately jumped from his boat into the cold lake Michigan waters to provide assistance.
Kevin helped the two men who were struggling in the water the best he could,and then tried to help with the body of one man floating unconscious. (as well as OU Want Some, MTI 42 and a few others ) Kevin acted heroic and with great concern for others with never giving a second thought to his exposure to fuel, cold water, and floating debris
Once the coast Guard arrived they took the body of Johnny Desusa (One of the men that perished) aboard there vessel, and then fished Kevin out of the cold waters onto there boat. By this time I had arrived at the accident site in our Cigarette. As we pulled up to the Coast Guard boat we informed them that I had two nurses aboard (My wife Cherie and her best friend Karen) and asked if they need there assistance The CG asked them to get aboard to help. At this point both girls went to the bow of our boat to be transferred to CG boat My wife stepped off and got on board the CG boat. Next was Karen, as she attempted to transfer from one boat to the other, the boats separated and Karen ended up falling in the water. At this moment it was not the CG that dove in to provide Karen with assistance, but was Kevin Sellers diving back in the cold water off of the CG boat to make sure Karen was ok, and helped her get on board the CG boat safely.
Kevin knew more than most, the risks involved with this sport, and has seen first hand the outcome of a high speed accident.
Kevin and I talked a few times about that day, and how he was affected by being involved in the SOTW rescue.
Kevin gave of his time to take the Make A Wish kids for rides and support of our event.
He gave of himself in helping to rescue at our event
He gave us all a smile with his enthusiasm
He gave us pause as we walked passed his eye catching boat
He gave his life doing what he loved almost more than anything else in life (Performance Boating)
I am sure when Kevin gets to the pearly gates the first thing he is going to want to know is where the boats are
God speed my friend your life here gave us all much joy and in your passing I am sure it will give us change
Marc Blondin
PRO LLC
Smoke On The Water Poker Run
Thanks for giving us all some insight on what a great guy Kevin was...RIP
09-07-2008 | 11:20 AM
#135
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35
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I am not an accident reconstruction expert... but.... that houseboat had to be a contributing factor, as the boats rounded the corner,. saw the channel restriction, and set themselves up for the straight.. maybe Kevin saw this, moved over a wake to pass, and the incident took off from there.. the pic of that houseboat, in that position, is VERY unnerving to say the least..
At the start of the Poker Run, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and myself were all working crowd conotrol from the entrance to Jamestown Harbor (the starting point), to the mouth of Wolf Creek.
In the picture you reference above, at that particular time, I was just in front of the rental houseboat you mention. I was desperately trying to get them to move over to the right more. They were renters... what more can I say.
The boat you see heading to pass them on the right side was a black, enclosed cockpit V bottom, possibly an Outer Limits. He passed between the rental houseboat and myself at over 100 MPH (estimated). The Skater in the accident was actually out on the other side, near the middle of the lake with good, clear open water.
After the houseboat was passed, they immediately got over, as I assume they were pretty shocked.
The accident happened about 1/2 mile or more past that area shown in the picture. The area where the wreck happened was actually a left turn in the lake, thus the damage to the starboard side of the Skater.
09-07-2008 | 12:17 PM
#139
Gold Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: Wellington, Fl/Mooresville NC
My condolences go out to friends and family. Its very sad to hear this. I never met Kevin, but Pammy was one of my favorite boats.
God Speed
By looking at this picture on the Lake Cumberland site, it appears that the transom seems to be intact, but the top cap is blown out on the starboard side. If you look at the pict. the port drive is trimmed all the way up. Is this because the port trim motor shorted out causing the drive to inadvertently go all the way up without the driver knowing and causing the boat to make a hard left turn. Or did someone put the trim up just to get the boat back on the trailer after the crash????????
Its hard to say by looking at the picture, but this defiantly brings up more questions as too why this might have happened. It does not seem likely the Skater would have rolled without cause.
God Speed
By looking at this picture on the Lake Cumberland site, it appears that the transom seems to be intact, but the top cap is blown out on the starboard side. If you look at the pict. the port drive is trimmed all the way up. Is this because the port trim motor shorted out causing the drive to inadvertently go all the way up without the driver knowing and causing the boat to make a hard left turn. Or did someone put the trim up just to get the boat back on the trailer after the crash????????
Its hard to say by looking at the picture, but this defiantly brings up more questions as too why this might have happened. It does not seem likely the Skater would have rolled without cause.
09-07-2008 | 12:30 PM
#140
VIP Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,315
Likes: 1,557
From: Maryland
