Columbia, MO (March 28, 2022) – Two men have lost their lives as a result of a boating accident reported in Ozark County on Friday morning, March 25. At around 3:30 a.m., authorities were requested on-site at an incident at the White River.
Reports from authorities show that 38-year-old Shannon Newton, 32-year-old Michael Dunlap, and 60-year-old Robert Smith were all boating along the North Fork of the White River in a 1994 Landau Jon boat.
For unknown reasons, the boat sank during the early morning hours.
Newton was able to swim to shore following the incident. However, Dunlap and Smith were unable to make their way over to the side of the White River. As a result, the two men suffered fatal injuries.
The Ozark County Coroner responded to the scene of the incident and pronounced both men deceased.
At this time, the incident remains under investigation.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Shannon Newton and Michael Dunlap. Our thoughts are with them at this time.
Fatal Drowning Accidents in Missouri
Every year, it is estimated that around 3,900 people lose their lives in fatal drowning incidents across the United States. This averages around 11 deaths every day from drowning across our country. Here in Missouri, we see many drownings involving boat-related incidents. When boats crash out on open and rough waters, it can be very difficult for those on board to make it to land safely.
When victims are killed in boat accidents, they often leave behind friends and family that are devastated. In some cases, families can reach out to a wrongful death attorney in Columbia to get the justice they deserve for their loved ones. Working with a skilled and knowledgeable legal team can help to ensure you are in the best position possible to move forward after experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Columbia Wrongful Death Lawyers
We at Peterson & Associates, P.C. strive to help our clients move forward after being impacted by another motorist’s negligent actions. When families lose loved ones, we are committed to helping them collect full and fair compensation to help alleviate some of the stress they face moving forward.
Our Columbia boating accident attorneys provide effective, trusted, and aggressive legal representation for our clients while being compassionate and understanding of their individualized needs.
Losing a loved one as a result of a watercraft accident is not something that families are able to prepare for. The mental and emotional consequences can be unbearable. The financial impacts just make the entirety of the situation even more overwhelming.
Not only is it essential that families are able to recover compensation after losing loved ones in accidents, but we are dedicated to helping them gain peace of mind in knowing they can move forward and overcome the challenges they face.
If you have lost a loved one due to a car accident, and you would like to explore legal options available to you, contact our Missouri personal injury attorneys at (816) 888-8888 as soon as possible to schedule a free case of evaluation to see how we can help you.
Note: Our team of writers utilized secondary sources in the creation of this accident post. For that reason, the specifics regarding this accident have not been independently fact-checked and verified by our writing staff. If you locate any information that is not accurate, please notify us immediately so that we can update the post to reflect the most accurate information available. If you would like the post to be removed from our site, please let us know and we will do our best to remove it completely.
Disclaimer: As a well-respected member of the Kansas City, Missouri business community, Peterson & Associates, P.C. is always looking to increase the safety of and bring overall safety for all Missouri residents. We hope that by bringing awareness to the dangers associated with driving that people will exercise additional caution when operating a motor vehicle and avoid being injured in a serious crash. This post is not intended to be a solicitation for business. This post should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos depicted in this post are not representative of the actual accident scene.
