Boat crash claims life
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, April 4, 2018
An Atmore man was injured in a two-vessel collision, which resulted in a Pace, Fla. man’s death in north Baldwin County near Miflin Lake and Tensaw River on March 31, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division.
Trooper Robyn Bryan said in a release that the collision occurred at approximately 10:50 a.m.
“A bass boat operated by Wesley Scott Feely of Atmore collided with the driver’s side of a bass boat operated by Jackie Dewayne Cox of Pace,” Bryan said. “The occupants of both boats were ejected into the water but were wearing Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). Several boaters who heard the boat crash rushed to assist the victims.”
Those who assisted pulled Cox and his passenger, Lee Grandquest, of Semmes, from the water, rendered first aid and stopped one of the boats that was still circling without an operator, Bryan said.
“Acting Baldwin County EMA Director Jessie Peacock and his son, Hayden, were also fishing nearby and helped provide treatment and coordinated with Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department and a Medstar EMS crew to guide them to the scene,” he said.
Bryan said Cox was deceased at the scene; Grandquest was flown to USA Medical Center in Mobile, where he was hospitalized; and Feely was treated at North Baldwin Infirmary Emergency Room and released.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Marine Patrol Division, and nothing further is available.
Bryan said troopers wanted to remind boat operators to wear an engine kill switch while their boat is underway.
Alabama law requires all boats under 24 feet and over 50 horsepower to be equipped with one, and the lanyard must be affixed to the operator. Boating questions may be directed to Marine Patrol’s Montgomery headquarters at 334-517-2950.