Bodies Identified as Missing Boaters Lost in Pontoon Boat Accident

    LOUISVILLE, KY, July 13, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- City officials Wednesday confirmed that the bodies of a woman and girl pulled from the Ohio River were two boaters who went missing after a rented pontoon boat they were riding in capsized over the weekend. The body of a man also missing after the crash was recovered earlier in the week.

Five people died and four were rescued after the boat overturned due to a collision with a construction barge during a Fourth of July outing Saturday, according to Louisville ABC affiliate WHAS.

"This tragic accident demonstrates how important it is for boaters to exercise caution when they are on the water," said Karl Truman, founder and principal attorney of Louisville-based personal injury firm The Karl Truman Law Office. "As an experienced boater myself, I can attest to the importance of being aware of conditions on the water, the location of nearby vessels and other factors that could pose a risk to the safety of the vessel and its passengers."

According to WHAS, the owner of the rental company said he had previously rented watercraft to the people involved in the accident and provided safety instructions prior to their first boat trip. As they left the dock Saturday, "all of the people on the boat were in compliance with the rules," according to WHAS.

Truman said that summer holidays like the Fourth of July often represent a "peak season" for vehicular collisions, and boating accidents are no exception.

"Summer might seem like a perfect time to cruise the waterways and enjoy the sunshine, but a river or lake can be just as dangerous as a highway without the proper precautions," he said. "Think of the rules of the road when you're out on the water: Travel at safe speeds, keep your distance from other vessels and never combine alcohol with the operation of any kind of vehicle."

Vigils are being planned in the Louisville community to honor the five who lost their lives in the boat accident, according to WHAS. Truman said that he and the firm extend their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

About The Karl Truman Law Office

The Karl Truman Law Office accepts a wide variety of personal injury and wrongful death claims. With offices in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, the firm tries cases including auto accidents, dog bites, workplace injuries, medical malpractice and more. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Truman is also proud to assist fellow soldiers with Veterans' Disability claims.

The website for The Karl Truman Law Office is http://www.trumanlaw.com

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