Boat Capsizes in the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia Killing Two Fishermen

According to an article in the Virginian Pilot, a 3-to 4-foot wave struck the side of an 18 foot boat, stalling its engine before it overturned in the Chesapeake Bay on Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Two Arizona fishermen – Allen Dedrick, 69, and Ned Rokey, 89 – died when they were dumped into the 45-degree water. Four others were rescued. For five years, the anglers had come to Virginia Beach to go after striped bass. The six men, between 62 and 89, arrived at the Lynnhaven Inlet city boat ramp next to the Lesner Bridge before 8 a.m. Soon they were motoring under the Lesner Bridge, headed east toward Cape Henry. “About a mile out, they ran into trouble,” said Adam Bernstein, a Virginia Beach Police spokesman.

A wave struck the side of the boat, stalling the 50-horsepower Mercury motor. At 8:57 a.m., someone radioed “Mayday, mayday” for help. Allen Dedrick rushed to hand out life vests to the five other fishermen and slipped into one himself. But before the others could get them on, the boat capsized, tossing everyone into the 45-degree water not far from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. In the water, the men held onto the engine attached to the boato’s stern. Around them, a cooler and life jackets were scattered in the water. “Moments later, Dedrick, who owned the boat, lost his grip and the current pulled him away,” Bernstein said. No one could reach him.

The men had been in the water about a half-hour before a Coast Guard helicopter lowered a bucket at 9:25 a.m. Two survivors were able to climb on top of the overturned boat. They were lifted into the chopper. The other survivors and Dedrick were pulled from the water by a Coast Guard boat and launch captains from the Maryland Pilots Association. “Beach police found Ned Rokey and started CPR,” Bernstein said.

On Thursday, more than 24 hours after the accident, only one of the four survivors had been released from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The others were being treated for hypothermia. Police declined to release their names.

Only one other boat left that ramp on Wednesday.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia practicing primarily in the southeastern U.S. and handles only injury law, including car, truck, railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. The firm's website is: hsinjurylaw.com, the firm edits two injury law blogs: Virginia Beach Injuryboard & Norfolk Injuryboard, and also hosts a video library covering many FAQ’s on personal injury subjects.

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