UPDATE: 38 Top Gun steering broke causing collision - Nick Willis
Speaking to patrons of the 13th edition of the Leverick Bay Resort’s Poker Run, Willis said that the steering was broken just before the start of the race, resulting in 38 Top Gun colliding with the boat Red Zone.
“It’s unfortunate, there was nothing he could have done at the time, this is very sad but let’s all pray for their timely recovery,” Mr Willis said. “I say every time to be careful and I do believe today that we have all been careful, there was a mechanical fault,” he added.
Mr Willis further stated, “The steering broke and he had no control over the boat at all and went straight into the boat from St Maarten.”
Four persons were injured and hospitalized as a result of the water accident, two of who are said to be in serious condition. They are the owners of 38 Top Gun Mr Jimmy Bou and his female partner Ms Luz Evid.
The captain of Red Zone was only identified as Corino.
Persons close to the couple said that there were four persons on the boat at the time and that the other two managed to escape without injuries. This news site caught up with one of the passengers but he said that he had rather not comment.
One other person who said she is very close to the couple said that the last word she had received from a hospital source was that Jimmy’s condition was listed as very serious. This was not confirmed to be so but her statement was also supported by one of the passengers of the vessel at the time of the accident.
Mr Nice Guy of Virgin Gorda was among the party assisting VISAR in the rescue effort and he told this news site at that the time of being transported to the hospital Jimmy Bou was conscious.
He said that he was able to give his name to those attending to him and was complaining of severe pain in the chest, head and back and was bleeding from the right ear.
Red Zone is from St Maarten while 38 Top Gun is out of Puerto Rico.
Up until the close of the Poker Run activities in the early morning hours of today May 26, 2014 the two badly damaged boats were docked at the Leverick Bay Marina and had attracted the curious eyes of almost everyone visiting as they took photographs and gathered in pockets discussing the incident and in some cases surrounding those from the two countries giving the support for the injured's speedy recovery.
See previous story published on May 25, 2014:
Several injured in Poker Run boating accident
LEVERICK BAY, Virgin Gorda, VI – At least two persons have been seriously injured following a boating accident in Virgin Gorda today, May 25, 2014.
Details are sketchy at this time but reports indicate that two boats involved in this weekend’s Poker Run collided with each other at Leverick Bay.
The injured were transported to an ambulance at Gun Creek and up to press time were being transferred to Peebles Hospital according to a source.
The condition of the injured persons remains unclear up to press time but this news site will provide more details as they become available.
36 Responses to “UPDATE: 38 Top Gun steering broke causing collision - Nick Willis”
Fulfilled!
AL...OL & SP..D DOESN'T MIX.
R.m, safety, Rules, over...ding & Sp..d.
More tourists, more problems, damaged infrastructure and may I alert you the revenue from cruise ship tourists is less than overnights.
Why can't we brag we have the best health service in the BVI before we go expanding things. Them same tourist going to need medical attention.
lawd ayo rum bubblers need to tek a rum test before ayo hit the wata.
hope dem injure people aright.
you your boat is over loaded? Do you have a fire extinguisher in your
car? because no one tells you so? Be responsible for your own action.
No money for non of these projects until we realize that safety is BVI priority. Then I would not have to be called to the hospital on my resting Sunday to save a life or lives and the money made is not even donated to assist to buy a hospital bed which we urgently need.
The big boys start is in the channel pointing to Anegada while
the smaller one goes down thru Musquito ghut, this was established
many year ago, for this same reason. Speedy recovery Jimmy we are
praying for you.
and is very obvious. They dont need tourist board nor Government
or no loan. Spring Regatta and the others are jokes compare to this but tourist
board is big and heavily financially involved.
Poker Run has proved itself several times over. Sponsors are running to the
and line up for next year.