The Hampton River in Virginia is popular with speedboat owners and Jet Ski riders, but new heavy wooden markers placed the water in the water after the City of Hampton dredged the boat channel have drawn concern from nearby residents who fear the markers will attract more boaters and pose a safety hazard on the river, according to the Daily Press.
With the markers, people will know where to drive their boat, but since most people go to the middle of the river, there is increased risk for accidents when someone is coming at high or medium speed.
In 2010, a woman died on the Hampton River after her 7-year-old son took the wheel of the family’s boat. He drove the craft under a pier despite cruising in an 80-foot-wide section of the river.
There were 87 navigation markers in the plan set. Nine markers were eliminated after the first review and an additional 23 markers were eliminated as part of a second review. Of the 32 eliminated, 23 are located south of the E. Mercury Boulevard Bridge. In planning for the markers, the City of Hampton sought feedback from an experienced water user who contacted numerous waterfront property owners. The US Coast Guard also reviewed the marker changes and agreed with the reductions. The markers cost $550 each including the installation costs.
In a moment, a boat crash in Virginia can take away a life or cause serious injuries like traumatic brain damage or spinal cord injuries.
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.
LC
