HOT SPRINGS - The boat that sank after a July 4 boating accident on Angostura was finally recovered July 16 from 30 feet of water with the aid of sonar equipment and divers.
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Officer D.J. Schroeder said the crash investigation had been delayed because of the difficulty recovering the sunken speedboat.
Local search and rescue and GF&P officials attempted to locate the sunken boat immediately after the accident, as well as over the next three days, but were unsuccessful because of the water's depth and low visibility.
Eventually, using divers and sonar, the 18-foot speedboat was found in 30 feet of water, about 80 feet from where eye witnesses said it had gone down. It was positioned vertically, with the heavy engine buried in the muddy bottom of the channel and the bow of the boat pointed upward. The nose of the boat was only about 11 to 12 feet below the surface of the water.
That part of the lake has a number of submerged cottonwood tree stumps.
"It appeared like a tree to the sonar operators," Schroeder said.
After the boat was on land, Schroeder was able to complete his investigation by photographing and taking measurements of the damage.
He has turned over his information to Fall River County State's Attorney Jim Sword, who will determine if any charges will be filed.
Although Schroeder would not speculate about possible charges, he said based on interviews he conducted immediately after the incident that alcohol was not a factor.
Schroeder said the accident happened when the lead boat, operated by Chad Collins, 24, of Rapid City, was struck on the left rear quarter by a boat driven by Joe Kosma, 66, of Sheridan, Wyo. Kosma's boat sank immediately.
Collins sustained only minor injuries, but a male passenger in his boat was airlifted to Rapid City Regional Hospital; he has since been released. The passenger's injuries included a laceration to the back of the head, scrapes, bruises and pain in his sternum. Kosma was also taken by ambulance to Regional Hospital and was treated for broken ribs and a bruised lung. He also has since been released from the hospital.
