Late in the day on July 4th, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources rangers were called to a boating accident in Lake Powell.
Authorities were told that a 14-year-old boy was injured in the accident, “with both legs reportedly cut nearly to the point of amputation” according to KSL. These injuries were caused by a boat’s propeller after the young boy was thrown off a boat.
The accident occurred after a Colorado woman, Jennifer Lynn Murillo, was driving her boat when she hit another boat. This caused the young boy to fall off of Murillo’s watercraft.
Murillo was charged with “negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, a third-degree felony; DUI, a class A misdemeanor; and having an open container of alcohol in a boat and three navigation violations, class C misdemeanors.” Her blood level was measured at 0.126% after the accident.
Dangers of BUI
Very similar to DUI, BUI refers to someone who is boating while under the influence. BUI is, unfortunately, common. The relaxing atmosphere of the water, and the seemingly open space, may give boaters a false sense of security when it comes to the operation of the watercraft. However, accident data shows that BUI is a dangerous activity with real consequences.
According to data collected by the United States Coast Guard, at least 23 percent of boating fatalities and 9 percent of non-fatal boating accident injuries, were the result of accidents involving drug or alcohol use.
Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol effects the mind and body in ways that make the risk of an accident higher. Alcohol slows down a person’s reaction time, impairs judgement, and compromises coordination and reaction times.
The effects of alcohol actually seem to be more dangerous to boaters than drivers, because many have a lot less experience on the water than they do on the road. Boaters average just 110 hours on the water per year. Since most don’t have daily experience on a boat, the effects of alcohol may be more likely to lead to a mistake that could cause a serious boating accident.
Learn More
If you have been injured in a boating accident that was caused by BUI, you may be due substantial financial damages. To learn more about your legal rights, contact our attorneys at Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks to set up a personal consultation. You can reach our practice by calling (801) 500-4000.
