On June 23, 2010, nine women, along with their coach were returning to their boathouse after an evening's rowing practice on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY, when they realized a motorboat was headed toward them at a very high rate of speed. Despite their screams and efforts to row out of the way, the two-ton Whaler with an 80 horsepower engine slammed broadside into their 60 foot rowing shell, ejecting one woman and coming to rest on top of a second rower's legs.
The driver of the motorboat had been drinking and, according to witnesses, was looking at his passenger and not where he was going. The driver was found to have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and was convicted of Boating While Intoxicated. He was sentenced to 3 months in jail and 90 hours of community service. Though all nine rowers survived, some with physical trauma - all with mental trauma, if the driver had been following the rules of the river and been respectful of the other boaters this near tragedy could have been avoided.
Thanks to a grant from the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research, Inc. and support from the Hudson River Rowing Association we were able to produce Share the River brochures and posters that will be distributed at Marinas and launching spots throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. As we all set our boats in the water each season, please look for this material before your next excursion or visit this website and the resources we have provided to familiarize yourself with the rules of the river and areas that have a high concentration of human powered boats that are vulnerable.
Every year we look forward to a boating season where rowing shells, kayaks, sailboats, motorboats and barges
can all enjoy the beautiful Hudson River together, safely and respectfully!
The driver of the motorboat had been drinking and, according to witnesses, was looking at his passenger and not where he was going. The driver was found to have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and was convicted of Boating While Intoxicated. He was sentenced to 3 months in jail and 90 hours of community service. Though all nine rowers survived, some with physical trauma - all with mental trauma, if the driver had been following the rules of the river and been respectful of the other boaters this near tragedy could have been avoided.
Thanks to a grant from the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research, Inc. and support from the Hudson River Rowing Association we were able to produce Share the River brochures and posters that will be distributed at Marinas and launching spots throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. As we all set our boats in the water each season, please look for this material before your next excursion or visit this website and the resources we have provided to familiarize yourself with the rules of the river and areas that have a high concentration of human powered boats that are vulnerable.
Every year we look forward to a boating season where rowing shells, kayaks, sailboats, motorboats and barges
can all enjoy the beautiful Hudson River together, safely and respectfully!