Thread: Lake Kissimmee

friend just emailed this to me ...........
what a shame, all for what?

THE LEDGER

Published: Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.

LAKE WALES | The search for a missing speed boater near the southern end of Lake Hatchineha continued Sunday with no luck for rescue crews.

David Bruce Hunter Jr., 28, of Big Pine Key, was reported missing Saturday afternoon after he lost control of his speedboat and was thrown from the craft near the entrance of the lake, near Camp Mack River Resort, according to the Florida Wildlife Fish and Conservation Commission.

Karen Parker, a FWC official, said it appeared Hunter had been going about 85 mph when the boat flipped as he tried to do a "wheelie" in the water on a canal leading to Lake Hatchineha.

The accident happened about 3 p.m. Saturday and rescue teams have been looking for the South Florida man since. The FWC is heading the investigation with the help of the Polk and Osceola County sheriff's offices.

Polk sheriff's divers called off their search Sunday night and planned to continue looking for Hunter at dawn today, according to Tim Glover, of the Sheriff's Office marine unit.

Hunter had been driving a yellow and white, 18-foot, tunnel hull speedboat, Parker said.

"The boat flipped over and we're still working on recovering his body," she said.

The search process has been long and tedious, said Sheriff's Office diver Bobby Brigman.

Fighting the currents through the 15-foot deep canal, divers swept the sandy bottom to check for signs of Hunter or wreckage from the boat.

The visibility is so poor in the canal, divers must surface to check their available air supply gauges, Brigman said. "It's like looking for something with your eyes closed. You can't see anything."

On Sunday, authorities shut down the canal while dive teams searched in the water, blocking boater traffic. A helicopter from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office circled overhead.

Most of Hunter's boat was found Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, divers found remaining pieces of its motor housing but no traces of Hunter. The boat's wreckage has been returned to Hunter's family, investigators said.

Darald Meyers, who operates Alligator Cove airboat tours, was on his way back from a tour run Saturday shortly after the boat crashed when he noticed all the boats around the scene.

"They were lined up all along the bank," he said.

Saturday's weather and an airboat association's lake cleanup attracted numerous air boaters to the area that day, creating higher than normal traffic, he said.

He had spotted a group of speedboaters who used the canal for high-speed runs earlier in the day, but did not know whether Hunter was among that group.

"They come out here to run because the canal is relatively stable," he said. "They (authorities) know they are out here. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened."

Dale Vining, who operates the Kissimmee Park and Marina, said he had lectured several young speed boaters for acting recklessly on the water just hours before the accident.

Witnesses told Vining that Hunter had just dropped his girlfriend off on the shoreline before trying to do the "wheelie" that sent him flying, Vining said. "He flipped right in front of her. He must have hit a wave or something."

Sunday evening, campers lined the shoreline in golf carts waiting for any word about Hunter.

"It's so sad," said Dee Meyers, referring to Hunter's accident.

One thing for sure Speed Kills,I try and stay off public lakes for that very reason.I feel bad for the family though.

update on lost man ........

Big Pine Key man dies in boating accident
Today 06.APR.09

Lake Wales, FL - A resident of Big Pine Key, David Bruce Hunter, 28, was killed Saturday when his boat went airborne and flipped bow-over-stern on Canal 37 in Lake Hatchineha, Polk County.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials, Hunter was operating an 18-foot speedboat and traveling in excess of 80 mph, despite FWC patrols in the area. Hunter lost control of his boat and was ejected into the water when the boat capsized.
Recovery operations continued throughout the weekend. Hunter’s body was located late Sunday evening. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office dive team and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office water patrol assisted in the recovery operation.

The FWC is continuing the investigation into the accident.