Thirty-four people have been presumed dead in a horrific Labor Day boat accident off Santa Cruz Island. According to news reports, so far, 33 bodies have been recovered. Crews were unable to recover the bodies for a long time because of unsafe conditions under the boat, which sank about 20 years off the island and in over 60 feet of water.
The 75-foot commercial diving vessel was anchored in Platts Harbor on the island’s north side when flames erupted early morning on Sept. 2, just hours before it was supposed to return to Santa Barbara from a Labor Day weekend cruise.
On Sept. 3, Coast Guard officials suspended the search for survivors and said they presumed 34 people had died in the accident. Their search lasted about 23 hours and spanned nearly 160 square miles. None of the victims have been formally identified, noting DNA analysis will be used to make those identifications.
No Escape from Fatal Fire
According to relatives, the victims included five members of the same family: two students, a diving company owner, a hospital nurse, and a 26-year-old woman who was part of the Conception crew. Of the 39 people aboard, only five, all crew members including the captain, escaped and survived.
Officials said the fire rapidly spread on the boat, trapping dozens of passengers and one crew member, who was asleep below the deck. According to reports, the flames were blocking the stairwell and escape hatch.
We offer our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in this horrific boat accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers
Ongoing Investigation
Five of the crew members who were awake in the main cabin jumped off the boat and into a dinghy to escape the fire. One of the men placed a mayday call to authorities before evacuating. When the Coast Guard arrived, flames fully engulfed the boat.
Officials have said that criminal activity was not involved. The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the fire.
The boat, The Conception, reportedly has no recent safety violations and has been inspected annually. Officials also said it was equipped with a number of safety devices, including a fixed fire suppression system that uses carbon dioxide for the engine room, an emergency radio beacon, and rafts and jackets for up to 110 passengers.
NTSB officials have already said that it could take them a year to investigate the details of this crash. We trust they are looking into a variety of factors including potential boat defects, electrical malfunctions, operator errors, negligence in maintenance, etc. An experienced California boat accident lawyer can stay on top of the investigation and help ensure their legal rights and best interests are protected.
Brian Chase
Articles, blogs, and content have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $1B for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College, and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
