Boat wreck on Smith Mtn

[Gambler250XB]

A guy in my old club ran his Ranger up on the bank Sunday night around 11:15 right at Halesford Bridge going approximately 45-50 mph. Boat went aground, hit a tree and was slung back into the water and both guys were ejected into the water. The driver (the guy I know) had surgery to repair a badly broken leg and also had broken ribs. Passenger was knocked out and came to when he landed in the water. I havent talked to him yet but I do believe his boat is totaled. Glad both are still alive.

Information came from a close friend of the passenger. Y'all be careful out there.

[Tom B]

[Hardhead1]

[RiverSnake]

[billybass]

[mcherry]

[Triton Frank]

[Big Johnson]

[skeeter202]

gambler , who was it ? just wondering if I know them .

[BBBAC1]

WOW...

[newbob]

BEDFORD COUNTY, VA --
Two Bedford County men had to be taken to the hospital, after a boat crash at Smith Mountain Lake late Sunday night.

Sergeant Bryan Young, with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), says the crash happened around 11:15 p.m., on the Bedford County side of the lake. The investigation as of Monday evening had found that Tim Hight and Jesse Lucas had been fishing near Indian Point, upstream of Hales Ford Bridge on the Roanoke River. The pair had turned their 20-foot, 2004 Ranger bass boat to head back downstream, toward the Hales Ford public boat ramp.

Sgt. Young believes the boat made too wide of a turn about 1/4 of a mile from the bridge, and hit the bank of a cove across from the old Water Wheel Marina.

The impact threw both men from the boat. One had to be flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital (RMH) with a broken leg and fractured ribs. Rescue crews took the second man to RMH by ambulance, with cuts and scratches. Sgt. Young did not indicate which man was more seriously hurt.

Sgt. Young says no alcohol was involved, and as of Monday evening no charges had been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

[FireBassr]

Horrible news....glad neither have life threatening injuries.

[Basswipe]

I'm glad they are both going to be ok.

I still have one question. To each their own but what are people doing running around on a lake in VA in the winter at almost midnight? Are they fishing?

[tarrington2484]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Basswipe &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I'm glad they are both going to be ok.

I still have one question. To each their own but what are people doing running around on a lake in VA in the winter at almost midnight? Are they fishing?
</td></tr></table>

They were most likely Striper fishing. There is quite a few prople around SML including myself that love to fish for Stripers this time of year. You can find them chasing shad along the banks and catch them with a fluke on a 1/4oz. jig head right on the bank. It is great fishing and a great way to cure cabin fever. You just have to be careful as things get slick. Now the running 45-50 mph is just too fast for night time boating in any season. I they make a speedy recovery and glad they weren't seriously hurt.

[Basswipe]

Man, that is some cold fishing there. At least when you fish in the winter during the day it's going to get warmer as the day goes along. I just wondered.

[Gambler250XB]

skeeter, Jesse Lucas was the driver/boat owner and the one more seriously injured. He does striper fish a lot.

I talked to a buddy today that said they hit that little point that sticks out on the right going back to the free ramp past Waterwheel.

[PATRO]

[skeeter202]

wish them a speedy recovery that point really needs to be marked better it comes up quick .

[mojo risn']

glad they are alive