October 12, 2007

There were tense moments in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel this morning.

A 20 foot pleasure boat that witnesses said was going way too fast, slammed into one of the Port Aransas ferries. Three people in the smaller boat were thrown overboard. And the boat itself capsized. 

Everyone involved in the accident is all right. No one on the ferry was injured, but three men who were thrown from their fishing boat were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.  Authorities are sending out a warning when it comes to traveling on the water.

Officials say the collision happened when two small fishing boats tried to cut off a ferry traveling from Harbor  land to Port Aransas. One of the fishing boats made it, the other did not and when this fishing boat met the ferry, the ferry won. 

A witness to the accident, Jesse O'Neal said, "I looked across the channel, you could see a boat flipped upside down, see three heads bobbing in the water, hear a bunch of police and sirens coming this way. I could see the Coast Guard where the boat was capsized at."

The three men were thrown life rings, and were quickly pulled from the water. The Port Aransas R.E. Stoltzer Jr. ferry was loaded with passengers at the time.

The ferry received minor scratches to its bow. Luckily, no one on board was hurt. Ferry Operations Manager, Howard Gillespie told 3News, "All passengers remained on board, while we took statements from them.  The crew is restricted from the vessel right now until the coast guard inspection is complete."

The Us Coast Guard has completed its inspection and has returned the ferry to service. In the meantime, officials are sending out a warning to others who use the channel.

Lt. Mike Lendvay of the U. S Coast Guard says, "This is a very busy channel for pleasure and commercial use, maintain caution. Bigger boats like this are not as easily maneuverable as a jet ski or small vessel. They do get the right of way. Well get some of the fishermen to try not to cut the bows of the ferry, its a lot safer to go behind than it is not to try and cut one at an angle."