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jeffsod · 08-12-2002, 10:36 AM

Did ya see this story in today's CCT's about that beached boat:

Worker dies at salvage scene
A state employee trying to help with a grounded fishing boat in Chatham is fatally stricken.

By JOHN LEANING
STAFF WRITER
CHATHAM - A state worker was fatally stricken yesterday while he was trying to assist a grounded fishing vessel on South Beach.

The victim, whose identity was being withheld last night until police could notify his family, worked with the state Department of Environmental Protection.

He was driving a department vehicle when the four-wheel drive Suburban suddenly veered into the surf at about 6:15 p.m. yesterday.

Chatham firefighters, who were leading the worker to the stranded boat, along with Harbor Master Stuart Smith, pulled him from the vehicle. He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Smith said in a interview from the beach that one moment the state truck was following the fire department vehicle, and the next minute it was in the water. He said at one point the state truck had surf crashing over its roof. The incident happened as the tide still had more than two hours to drop, giving workers a chance to pull the vehicle free before high tide returned.

The tide also aided efforts to pump an estimated 200 gallons of diesel fuel from the No Worries, a 40-foot boat, which grounded on the ocean side of South Beach Friday.

Vessel owner David Stein, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, had been unable to get any of the fuel pumped off the boat after it grounded Friday.

That is what Smith, assisted by contractors from Clean Harbors, intended to do last night, to avoid environmental damage from a spill.

The wreckage of the fishing boat was starting to break up in the heavy surf, Smith said.

Observing the operation were officers from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office Cape Cod Field Office.

MSO investigators want to know why the boat started taking on water Friday, which is why Stein, who was believed to be operating, intentionally beached the vessel, Smith said.

The harbor master said the owner, or his insurance company, will be responsible for the removal and any related cleanup costs, which could be between $10,000 to $15,000.

So far, Smith said, there had not been any serious environmental problems related to the stranded vessel which is on the ocean side of South Beach, roughly four miles south of Chatham Light.

08-12-2002, 10:36 AM	#24
jeffsod Registered User iTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southeastern MA Posts: 394	Did ya see this story in today's CCT's about that beached boat: Worker dies at salvage scene A state employee trying to help with a grounded fishing boat in Chatham is fatally stricken. By JOHN LEANING STAFF WRITER CHATHAM - A state worker was fatally stricken yesterday while he was trying to assist a grounded fishing vessel on South Beach. The victim, whose identity was being withheld last night until police could notify his family, worked with the state Department of Environmental Protection. He was driving a department vehicle when the four-wheel drive Suburban suddenly veered into the surf at about 6:15 p.m. yesterday. Chatham firefighters, who were leading the worker to the stranded boat, along with Harbor Master Stuart Smith, pulled him from the vehicle. He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Smith said in a interview from the beach that one moment the state truck was following the fire department vehicle, and the next minute it was in the water. He said at one point the state truck had surf crashing over its roof. The incident happened as the tide still had more than two hours to drop, giving workers a chance to pull the vehicle free before high tide returned. The tide also aided efforts to pump an estimated 200 gallons of diesel fuel from the No Worries, a 40-foot boat, which grounded on the ocean side of South Beach Friday. Vessel owner David Stein, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, had been unable to get any of the fuel pumped off the boat after it grounded Friday. That is what Smith, assisted by contractors from Clean Harbors, intended to do last night, to avoid environmental damage from a spill. The wreckage of the fishing boat was starting to break up in the heavy surf, Smith said. Observing the operation were officers from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office Cape Cod Field Office. MSO investigators want to know why the boat started taking on water Friday, which is why Stein, who was believed to be operating, intentionally beached the vessel, Smith said. The harbor master said the owner, or his insurance company, will be responsible for the removal and any related cleanup costs, which could be between $10,000 to $15,000. So far, Smith said, there had not been any serious environmental problems related to the stranded vessel which is on the ocean side of South Beach, roughly four miles south of Chatham Light.