Troopers investigation North Baldwin boating fatality over Easter weekend

ALEA release

Posted 4/2/18

GROVE HILL POST — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is reporting one fatality in a boating accident over the Easter weekend in North Baldwin County.

At approximately 10:50 a.m. Alabama State …

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Troopers investigation North Baldwin boating fatality over Easter weekend

ALEA release

Posted

GROVE HILL POST — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is reporting one fatality in a boating accident over the Easter weekend in North Baldwin County.

At approximately 10:50 a.m. Alabama State Troopers from ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division responded to a two-vessel collision in north Baldwin County near the confluence of Miflin Lake and the Tensaw River.

A bass boat operated by Wesley Scott Feely of Atmore collided with the driver’s side of a bass boat operated by Jackie Dewayne Cox of Pace, Florida. The occupants of both boats were ejected into the water but were wearing Personal Flotation Devices.

Several boaters who heard the boat crash rushed to assist the victims, pulling Cox and his passenger, Lee Grandquest, of Semmes from the water, rendered first-aid and stopped one of the boats that was still circling without an operator.

Acting Baldwin County EMA Director Jessie Peacock and his son Hayden were also fishing nearby and helped provide treatment and coordinated with Crossroads VFD and a Medstar EMS crew to guide them to the scene.

Cox was pronounced dead at the scene. Grandquest was flown to USA Medical Center in Mobile, where he remained hospitalized at the time of the release on Saturday. Feely was transported to the emergency room at North Baldwin Infirmary where he was treated and released. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Marine Patrol Division.

“Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind boat operators to wear an engine kill switch while their boat is underway,” according to the release.

Alabama law requires all boats under 24 feet and over 50 horsepower to be equipped with one, and the lanyard must be affixed to the operator.

The ALEA is not reporting any other death investigations, either on the road or on the water, from Baldwin County over the Easter weekend at this time. Troopers are also investigating a fatality in Mobile County that occurred Saturday on Alabama 188 south of Interstate 10 in Grand Bay.

Boating questions may be directed to Marine Patrol’s Montgomery headquarters at 334-517-2950.