Man Goes Missing During Fishing Trip
A recent tragic boating accident near Pittsburg demonstrates the dangers of the Sacramento Deep Water Channel.
What Happened?
On 20 May, a father dove into the water near the Pittsburg Marina after his son fell off the boat during a fishing trip. The 59-year-old man threw a flotation device to the boy and dove into the water to help retrieve him. Another adult on the boat was able to retrieve the boy using the flotation device, but the father was caught in the current and unable to reach the boat.
The adult and child continued to look for the missing man and promptly notified authorities to help them search for the missing man. The accident occurred near Broad Slough at the edge of the Sacramento Deep River Channel. Neither the child nor the father was wearing a life vest.
Search for the Father
The Pittsburg Police Department, Contra Costa County Fire Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, the Coast Guard, and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department’s Marine Enforcement Detail responded to the Marina and surrounding waters to aid the search.
Rescuers found no sign of the man during the initial three-hour search for the man the night he went missing. As the accident occurred around 5:30 p.m., this search was limited by daylight. The search resumed on Sunday and again on Monday.
There is still no sign of what happened to the man. Experts are modeling current patterns to try to locate the man, but rescue crews will likely have to suspend rescue operations by the end of the week.
Injuries Sustained by the Boy
The boy, a 9-year-old child, sustained hypothermia in the incident. He was treated at a local hospital and kept for observation. Hospitals will often observe children who have accidents in the water due to concerns about water inhaled into the lungs. This can create severe problems. Fortunately, current reports indicate that the child did not suffer from these problems.
What Caused the accident?
Authorities have not released additional information on the initial boat accident that forced the child into the water. Those familiar with those waters know that the area is mainly filled with snags that may cause a boat to tip. Powerful currents in this area can also cause a boat to tip.
About the Sacramento Deep River Channel
The Sacramento Deep Water Channel is a nearly 44-mile-long stretch of the river constructed to bring ships from the Bay Area into the Port of Sacramento. These waters, especially at the confluence where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet, can be treacherous due to strong currents. While these waters may look calm from above, strong currents can easily pull objects in the water off course.
These treacherous currents are responsible for many tragic accidents along the Sacramento River and into the delta areas in Contra Costa County. In this case, the currents can easily pull victims under the water and out to sea. Many small islands in the area will complicate searches for victims as they can often be hidden along these shores.
Pittsburg Boat Accident Lawyer & Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, and I am a Pittsburg personal injury lawyer. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a boating accident, I encourage you to call our injury attorneys at (925) 428-5220 for free, friendly advice. You may also call toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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Image Credit: Public Domain at Wikimedia Commons
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