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Boater dies in accident Save Email Print
Posted: 10:45 PM May 18, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:15 AM May 19, 2008
 Reporter: KXII-Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com
15 comments
A | A | A

MURRAY CO., OK -- One man dies in boating accident in Murray County. Park officials say it happened Saturday on the Lake of the Arbuckles, located in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Marlon Omar Hernandez, 20, was driving a wave runner when it collided with a passing power boat. Bystanders tried to resuscitate Hernandez, a Moore, OK resident, until EMS crews arrived.

He died later at Arbuckle Memorial Hospital from his injuries.

Park rangers want to warn the public: driving, alcohol ,and boating do not mix.
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Posted by: Mark Location: tx on Jun 19, 2008 at 08:49 AM
In order to manage both wave runners and boaters, states will need to have more rangers on the water,this means more tax dollars. As boaters are we ALL willing to be taxed to help provide more protection on all lakes,not just Arbuckle? Just like the law states about drinking and driving a car, If I am not mistaken it also applied to all watercraft.PEOPLE ARE THE CAUSE OF MOST ACCIDENTS NOT THE WATERCRAFT.
Posted by: Neal Location: Murray County on May 20, 2008 at 08:24 PM
I have boated the arbuckle lake for over 30 yrs. I've seen careless and cautious boaters and waverunner operators on the lake. But in order to know what exactly happened a person would have to have been either in the boat or on the wave runner. All this guesswork is just that, 'guesswork". It's sad that a man died and it's very sad that his family witnessed it. But everyone that was not directly involved should save their comments and opinions on the accident until all the facts are in. My personal thought is they should ban all these small watercraft from the arbuckle because it is just too small. If the government needs the funds that much, let them raise the lake fees for boats. It would be far less csstly than the lives lost having these small watercrafts on the water. This type of accident has occured even when no alcohol is involved several times in the past.
Posted by: anon Location: murray county on May 20, 2008 at 07:48 PM
This is truely a sad story for all involved. We have enjoyed the Arbuckle Lake for over 30 years. We have had these small watercraft dart in and out of our wake and go in large circles around our boat in a careless way many times. I wish they had left these watercraft off the lake. It's far to small for this type of craft and at least one person would still be alive today if it were still in affect. It's like a motorcycle on the highway, you know your on a smaller vehicle and may not be as visable."Stay aware" I take extra care when I am on the interstate with semis. It's simple really,"the odds are not in your favor if you collide with a larger vehicle. They said there was alcohol in the boat. How do we know the man on the jetski was not drinking, and how do we know that either of them were drunk? We should wait for test results on all parties to determine that. This is a country of"innocent until proven guilty". I'd like to see it stay that way. My prayers are with all involved.
Posted by: JMO on May 20, 2008 at 08:08 AM
I think it is sad that news articles about a persons death always turn into a heated debate with name calling on KXII's forum. I hate the thought of the families that lost loved ones seeing the harsh comments from people who have no sensitivity. It is fine to discuss whether or not there should be licenses and safety concerns but why should we judge and try to place blame when we do not know all the facts.
Posted by: Lance Location: TX on May 19, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I actually witnessed this accident and it was not the fault of the man on the wave runner, it was the guy fault of the man driving the boat. The boater was taken to jail for DUI. Also, the man on the wave runner had just entered the "no wake zone" and the man in the boat was speeding through that area close to shore. The man who died has his wife and kids there and they witnessed the accident. It was very sad.
Posted by: Anon Location: Arbuckle Lake on May 19, 2008 at 02:42 PM
You're absolutely right, there are also stupid boaters, too, not just those on PWCs. I think it's easier for people to consider PWCs not as dangerous as a boat, though. Having rented both PWCs and boats before to others, the majority of the PWC renters weren't as interested in how to safely ride as those operating a boat. I think everyone that drives on the water should have a valid driver's license and perhaps even a boater's safety certification. Maybe this tragedy would have been prevented.
Posted by: Responsible waverunner Location: texas on May 19, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I agree with the smart one from hugo... as it is with ANY type of motor powered form of transportation you have to be the responsible party when it comes to drinking. And if you are with someone that has been drinking and they attempt to operate ANY type of motor powered transportation, YOU are just as much at FAULT as the impaired person is. Get off your high horse b/c you are not tallented enough to operated one of these very fun machines!!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Good for you Hugo!!! It should be mandatory.
Posted by: Stacey Location: Norman on May 19, 2008 at 10:56 AM
This article mentions alcohol and boating don't mix, but it leaves out the fact that the boater who hit Marlon was the one drinking not Marlon. It doesn't matter that he was on a jetski the dumbass who was drinking should have been watching out like other responsible drivers and it probably would have been easier if he wasn't intoxicated!! Don't blame the jetskier if you don't know all the facts!!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM
You know just as many people do stupid things with boats as they do with jetskies. Its not always the ones who dont own a boat. You hear more about these people than you do the boaters only because they are more protected than the ones on jetskies. And it shouldnt matter what kind of vehicle you drive, on water or not, you should have a license to operate it no matter what.
Posted by: Anon Location: Arbuckle Lake on May 19, 2008 at 10:37 AM
It was not a power boat, it was a bass boat. The wave runner cut in front of the bass boat and there was little the boat could do to prevent the accident. It was past the time for all PWC's to be off the water and the wave runner road up on the boat, not the other way around as the park wants everyone to believe. There are no winners, and we feel awful for the family, but the park is going to try and make an example out of the boat driver for sure. People think wave runners are toys. They aren't. They are a boat and should be treated with much more respect. Yesterday, we saw 3 guys riding a seado with NO LIFE JACKETS. We also had a wave runner coming at us from the side to jump our wake. We had to veer to the right to keep from getting hit. It's a problem and Arbuckle lake should never have allowed PWCs back on the water.
Posted by: anonymous Location: hugo on May 19, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Sorry, not all people with wave runners are STUPID! Ticket the stupid drivers and leave the responsible ones alone! Don't blame the wave runners for accidents. My family has enjoyed our two watercrafts for almost 4 years without injury! We also have boat. Boaters and wave runner drivers all need to be alert to their environment. Everyone should be able to enjoy the lake. My children have gone through the certification process, and are supervised at ALL times. Driving any vehicle after drinking is irresponsible.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 19, 2008 at 08:11 AM
everyone should have a watercraft operating certificate. What is it going to take?
Posted by: Terry Location: Sulphur OK. on May 19, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Wet Bikes,are an accedent waiting to happen they are no match for the big power boats on the water today.Arbuckle Lake is to small to accomodate both watercraft,there needs to be a law to regulate the use of wet bikes on the lake.
Posted by: Buddy Location: Sherman on May 19, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Thats 2 deaths on area lakes in just a few weeks!! What is it going to take to out law these Wave Runners, the Lake patrol needs to start writing more Wave Runner tickets for unsafe boating instead of writing the tickets to the people out enjoying the lake and not hurting others. Every weekend during the summer you will see Wave Runners doing wild and crazy unsafe things that I am really shocked that more people are not killed or hurt all the time. How many more people are going to have to get killed for the lake Patrol to out law them? Hey Bubba Watch this...
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