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Statistics: Fatal Boating Accidents 2001-2008 YTD

As of August 8, 2008

General Statistics 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Reportable
Fatalities		 19
(17 male,
2 female)		 21
(all male)		 19
(18 male,
1 female)		 7
(all male)		 12
(all male)		 12
(10 male,
2 female)		 14 
(all male)		 9 (8 male, 1 female)
Number of Incidents 17 19 17 7 11 12 11 8
Number that 
occurred in
boats under 18'		 10 15 7 3 9 10 6 2
Average
Boat Length		 17'4" 16' 20'6" 21'9" 16' 15'1" 17'2" -
Average Age
of Victim		 40 43 44 43 40 44 36 46
Age Range 22 to 77 17 to 77 9 to 75 13 to 70 15 to 65 21 to 66 4 to 51 21 to 79
Type of Accident 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fall overboard 6 8 5 2 6 5 4 1
Capsize 3 3 6 1 3 5 3 -
Flood/Swamp 2 4 1 - - - 1 -
Collision - 3 1 - - - - 1
Sinking 1 - - - - - - -
Fire/Explosion - - 1 - - - - -
Struck by propeller 1 - - 1 - - 1 -
Struck by vessel - - - - - - 1 1
Ejected from vessel - - - - - - - 1
Person left vessel 3 3 2 2 2 1 - 1
Skier mishap - - - - - - - 1
Other/Unknown 1 - 1 1 - - 1 3
Lifejackets 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Not Worn or Not Worn Correctly 13 18 15 7 12 11 9 5
None Onboard 3 5 3 - 4 6 4 -
Not Enough Onboard - 2 1 - - 1 - -
Cause of Death 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Drowning 16 18 14 4 10 11 12 3
Injuries 1 1 3 2 - 1 1 2
Cold Water/Hypothermia - 2 4 - - - - -
Other/Unknown 2 - 2 1 2 - 1 4
Contributing Factor (may be more than one)
Alcohol 9 8 1 3 4 4 5 1
Cold Water/Hypothermia 5 1 2 1 3 - - -
Hazardous Waters - - 7 1 - 1 1 -
Sitting/Standing in an
undesignated area		 - 2 - - - 2 - -
Reckless Operation - 3 - - - - - 1
Other - - Anchor from Stern: 1 - - Overloading: 1 - Skier behavior: 1
Type of Boat 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Paddle Boat - 1 - - 1 1 2 -
Rowboat/Scull 2 3 - - 1 3 - 1
Canoe/Kayak 2 4 5 1 2 2 3 1
Inflatable 1 1 - - - - - -
Sailboat 1 - - - - - - -
Powerboat 11 9 10 6 7 5 5 5
PWC - 1 - - - - - 1
Pontoon - 1 1 - - 1 - -
Other - - 1 - - - 1 -
  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fatalities by Waterway
Lake 9 6 3 2 6 9 5 1
River 2 6 10 1 2 1 2 3
Pond 1 2 - - 2 1 2 -
Lake Erie 7 7 5 4 2 1 4 3
Ohio River - - 1 - - - 1 2
Geographic Region of Ohio
Northeast 12 9 7 2 3 6 5 -
Northwest 1 7 5 3 2 1 3 5
East Central 1 1 - - 2 1 1 -
West Central 3 4 1 - 3 3 1 -
Southeast 1 - - - 1 1 - -
Southwest 1 - 6 2 - - 4 4