The current Ohio DNR Watercraft website can be found at watercraft.ohiodnr.gov as of March 15, 2013.

Statistics: Fatal Boating Accidents 2006-2010

As of January 3, 2011

General Statistics

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Reportable
Fatalities		 12
10 male		 14 
all male		 15
14 male		 9
all male		 16
14 male
Number of Incidents 12 11 12 9 15
Number that occurred
in boats under 18'		 10 6 4 5 8
Average Boat Length 15'1" 17'2" 22'3" 18'2" 17'11"
Average Age of Victim 44 36 52 52 47
Age Range 21 to 66 4 to 51 21 to 83 33 to 84 20 to 75

Type of Accident

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Fall overboard 5 4 2 3 2
Capsize 5 3 2 2 4
Flood/Swamp - 1 1 1 -
Collision - - 2 1 1
Struck by propeller - 1 - - -
Struck by vessel - 1 - - -
Ejected from vessel - - 2 1 -
Person left vessel 1 - 1 - 5
Skier mishap - - 1 - -
Fire w/explosion - - - 1 1
Other/Unknown - 1 1 - 2

Lifejackets

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Not Worn or Not Worn Correctly 11 9 10 8 16
None Onboard 6 4 - 1 7
Not Enough Onboard 1 - - - -

Cause of Death

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Drowning 11 12 11 7 11
Injuries 1 1 2 1 1
Hypothermia - - - - 2
Complications from injuries - - - 1 -
Other / Unknown - 1 2 - 2

Contributing Factor (may be more than one)

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Alcohol / Drug Use 4 5 4 2 5
Cold Water / Hypothermia - - 1 - -
Hazardous Waters 1 1 - - 1
Sitting / Standing in an Undesignated Area 2 - 1 - -
Passenger / Skier Behavior - - 2 1 1
Overloading 1 - - 1 1
Operator Inattention - - - 2 -
Operator Inexperience - - 1 - 3
Improper Loading - - - 1 2
Machinery Failure - - - 1 -
Ignition of fuel spill/vapor - - - 1 -
Other / Unknown - - 3 - -

Type of Boat

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Powerboat 5 5 7 7 8
Canoe/Kayak 2 3 2 2 1
Paddle Boat 1 2 - - 1
Rowboat/Scull 3 - 1 - 2
Sailboat - - - - 1
PWC - - 1 - -
Pontoon 1 - - - 2
Auxiliary Sail - - - - -
Other - 1 1 - -

Fatalities by Type of Waterway

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Lake 9 5 2 3 6
River 1 2 3 4 2
Pond 1 2 2 - 2
Lake Erie 1 4 6 2 5
Ohio River - 1 2 - -

Geographic Region of Ohio

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Northeast 6 5 4 - 5
Northwest 1 3 5 3 3
East Central 1 1 1 1 3
West Central 3 1 1 1 3
Southeast 1 - - - 1
Southwest - 4 4 4 -

What Causes Boating Accidents?

Read More

Boating Accident Statistics

Accidents by County: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Fatalities: 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-current

Full Reports in PDF: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
The current Ohio DNR Watercraft website can be found at watercraft.ohiodnr.gov as of March 15, 2013.