Confusion filled the darkness of Friday's multifatal boat crash
Rescue workers at first didn't know how many people were involved in the wreck, caused when a speedboat collided nearly head-on with a pontoonlike boat. They were uncertain as to how many people were in the water. And they didn't know how many were left alive.
The darkness made getting answers to those questions especially difficult.
"Confusion is the first word that comes to mind," said Scott Bowe, a state Department of Natural Resources warden who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash.
At about 9:45 p.m. Friday, a Larson speedboat piloted by Mark Michels, 50, of Eau Claire collided with a Princecraft pontoonlike boat driven by Robert Romanshek, 56, also of Eau Claire, just north of Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. The crash resulted in four deaths and injuries to four other people.
Romanshek, whose daughter Maura was scheduled to wed Leo Pohl of Minnesota the next day, had taken Pohl, Pohl's brother and three groomsmen for a pontoon ride on the river shortly after they had attended a rehearsal dinner. The celebration turned tragic when the boat driven by Michels collided with the pontoon.
Michels was killed on impact as the speedboat spun and struck the shore. Matthew Overhulser, 28, of Eau Claire, who was to be one of Pohl's groomsmen the next morning, was found dead in the pontoon that night.
On Sunday morning the bodies of 28-year-old groomsman Matthew Simonson of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and 25-year-old Luke Pohl of Elk River, Minn., the groom's brother, were discovered in the river. Simonson was found near the crash site, and Luke Pohl was found nearly three miles downstream, near Riverview Park in Eau Claire.
Four people survived the crash. Carol Oller, 49, of Hayward, a passenger in Michels' boat, is being treated for injuries at an Eau Claire hospital. Romanshek and pontoon passengers Leo Pohl and groomsman Greg Voight, of Minnesota, received medical treatment.
Authorities investigating the crash said the drivers of both boats had been drinking alcohol prior to the accident, but they have not said alcohol consumption caused the wreck.
Michels has a history of alcohol abuse, court records show. On Nov. 5, 2004, Michels pleaded no contest in Wood County Court to seventh-offense drunken driving and was sentenced to a year in jail. More than three years later, he pleaded no contest to a felony charge of drunken driving in Eau Claire County and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and 30 months of extended supervision.
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At about 9:45 pm Friday, a Larson speedboat piloted by Mark Michels, 50, of Eau Claire collided with a Princecraft pontoonlike boat driven by Robert Romanshek, 56, also of Eau Claire, just north of Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
US Fish & Wildlife Service staff, among them Paul Pallas, Marcus Hockett, Erin Clark, Dan Harrell, and Jessica Larson, also helped with the excavation. "It was just as enjoyable for them," Berg said. "It's something out of the ordinary to work on
Blueliner Kalle Ekelund led that trio with 43 points while captain Jack Walchessen and Justin Larson combined for 46 points. Those aren't numbers that get you into the playoffs or win championships. The Petes could be in the same boat with their 20
"Three Photographers: Three Visions," work by Ray Beal, Holly Garner-Jackson and Kris Larson, University of Maine (Powers Art Galleries), Machias. 255-1279. Through Aug. 22. "Transformations," more than 20 works by men in long-term recovery at the
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Your Questions About Boat Parts | Big Toys for Big Kids
We recently purchased a 1990 Larson Contempra boat. We need replacement parts, where to find?
We need to find a new bimini top for it but were unsuccessful on online sites due to make/model not an option. Also, previous owner never set up aft benches and we would like to set them up, the cushions were provided but no stands? Need help in assembly and where to find replacement parts for this type of boat .
admin answers:Boat us has a larson boat owners forum where you can discuss your questions with other larson owners
http://www.boatus.com/boatgroups/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=179&manufID=72
they should be able to provide you with pictures of how the aft benches are installed and may also have a source for replacement of your bimini top.
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