2024 Summary
There were 8 fatal accidents, involving 9 boats, resulting in 9 deaths and 2 injuries. There was $2500 in damage to watercraft, and $500 in damage to other property. There were 1.04 deaths per 100,000 registered watercraft, compared to the U.S. rate of 4.8. All but one of the incidents were single-boat accidents and were classified as 4 capsizings, 2 falls overboard and 2 incidents where a person left an unanchored boat voluntarily. Five of the deaths involved non-motorized craft (including 4 canoes and one kayak), 4 deaths involved motorized craft including 2 open motorboats (18 ½ ft. and 20 ft. long) and 2 pontoon boats. One incident involving 2 canoes occurred in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). Three of the 9 watercraft had a single occupant. Six of the watercraft had life jackets on board, but none of the 9 victims were wearing one (0%). The most common age range for victims was 61 years and older (3), followed by 31 – 40 years old (2). The oldest victim was 76 years old and the youngest was 15 years old. Alcohol was listed as a factor in 3 of the 8 incidents (37.5%).
| Year | Total boating fatalities & non-boating drownings | Deaths per 100,000 population | Drownings (non-boating) | Boating fatalities | Boating deaths per 100,000 boats | Non-fatal boating accidents | Statitics summary |
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