News Release

2 fatal boating accidents plague weekend

September 29, 2008
Contact: Joy Hill: 352-732-1225 or 352-258-3426

Two people died in separate boating accidents in Flagler and Volusia counties this weekend.

On Saturday around 1:30 p.m., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers, along with Flagler County Sheriff's deputies, responded to a boating accident near Washington Oaks State Park. The U.S. Coast Auxiliary safety patrol was also on scene.

Judith M. Bailey, 63, of St. Augustine, was injured and later died after the boat she was riding in hit a channel marker in the Intracoastal Waterway. Gary R. Morris, 57, of Elkton, was operating the 14-foot fiberglass fishing boat when it struck channel marker 98.

Morris was ejected from the vessel after it hit the wooden pole and was cut on his foot and ankle. Bailey was injured, but remained in the boat as it circled under its own power before coming to rest on shore about 30 yards from the channel marker.

Morris was treated and released at Florida Hospital Bunnell; Bailey was airlifted to Florida Hospital Bunnell, where she died. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death, and the FWC is investigating the cause of the accident.

On Sunday around 3:30 p.m., FWC officers and Volusia County Sheriff's deputies responded to a boating accident near Deltona.

Frank Ernest St. Clair, 49, of Deltona, died while he was riding on an inflatable raft that was being towed by Betty A. Drane, 51, of Deltona.

Drane was operating the 18-foot Four Winns fiberglass ski boat when she noticed St. Clair bend over and fall into the water. When Drane got back to St. Clair, he was floating face-down in the water. He was wearing a life jacket.

St. Clair was transported to Fish Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Volusia County medical examiner will determine the cause of death; the FWC is investigating the cause of the accident.

These accidents came on the heels of another fatal boating accident in which a kayaker died in St. Johns County on Sept. 24.

There have been 48 boating fatalities so far this year in Florida.