The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their findings on the fatal boating accident that happened over the weekend. The incident occurred around 6:00 a.m., Saturday, October 20, 2012, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River Pool #16, about one mile north of Fairport, Iowa near the Shady Creek Boat Launch.
According to the report, seven duck hunters, including one nine-year old youth, were traveling to their hunting blind in a Jon boat to hunt on opening day of the Illinois North Zone waterfowl season.
Conservation Police say the boat, which was rated for twelve occupants, was equipped with a sufficient number of personal flotation devices for all aboard.
While traveling on the Mississippi River, officers say the boat struck a concrete navigational marker on the Illinois side of the main channel.
According to the report, one of the passengers was ejected from the boat. The youth on board was reportedly the only person wearing a PFD. Five hunters sustained injuries and were transported to an Iowa hospital.
50-year-old David Slater of Davenport, Iowa and 42-year-old Thomas Trainer of Canton, Ill., died at the scene. The Rock Island County Coroner says the preliminary autopsy shows Slater drowned and Trainer died of a traumatic head injury.
Illinois Conservation Police say the actions and quick response of an injured passenger on board the boat, along with nearby hunters, and emergency fire and police personnel from Iowa were instrumental in preventing additional casualties and in the recovery of one of the deceased victims.
As of Monday afternoon, four subjects remained hospitalized. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Illinois DNR Conservation Police.
