KBIA

MO Boating Deaths Triple COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - According to the Missouri Water Patrol boating deaths have nearly tripled this year on Missouri waterways. Sergeant Jerry Callahan is a spokesman for the Missouri Water Patrol. He says there have been 11 more boating deaths this year than last year, and more of the boating season is left. Sergeant Callahan says drownings on the waterways are now 1 more than last year to date.

Our Boating fatalities are up 18 this year as opposed to 7 last year, year to date, and you know that's a significant number except for last year was exceptionally low. Low year for number of boating fatalities that is fatalities from boating accidents.

Callahan says officers are taking extra precautions in order to control the number of deaths on the water. He says the state has increased the number of sobriety checkpoints on the water and has been varying the location and checkpoint times in order to deter boaters from driving under the influence. Callahan says officers are encouraging boaters to designate a sober captain and to wear life jackets as much as possible in order to increase their safety on the water.
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