Flw Boat Accident

[Keri]

I just read that Shinichi Fukae hit the Paris Landing Bridge on his way to weigh in. I read he was bruised and a pretty good cut on his head and the camera man may have had some broken ribs and cuts. I'm happy everyone is ok but please be careful out there.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Here's a photo I found of it that was posted on another forum. Both of them are very lucky nothing worse happened to them.

[5bass]

It was rumored that Fukae had around 20# in the livewell heading back to weigh in but he had to forfeit his catch because of the accident. If he really did have 20#, smacking that bridge cost him a 3rd place finish, roughly $16,000 in winnings (difference between 3rd money and 10th money) and he pretty much totaled a $60,000 dollar plus bass boat.

[slonezp]

Why would hitting bridge be a weight penalty? If he weighed in late, that's a different story, but being penalized for an accident doesn't make sense.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Probably because he couldn't return under his own power. I'm pretty sure if you get towed in, you end up forfeiting the days catch. Don't quote me on that though as I'm not 100% certain.

[Big Fish Rice]

Here are FLW's Official Rules, sure hope everyone recovers.

In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of returning to the check-in: (1) by both partners remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or (2) by both partners entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions the contestants’ catches may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, dead-fish penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules).

[Bass Dude]

OK....nobody's asking the question...How does one hit a bridge, the bridge from the pic looks pretty easy to see!!

[Grey Wolf]

OK....nobody's asking the question...How does one hit a bridge, the bridge from the pic looks pretty easy to see!!

You beat me to it , a bridge is kinda big.

[J Francho]

All I can think of is that the pilings are wider, just under the surface, than he thought. Hope everyone recovers OK.

[Glenn]

His engine may have come loose, causing him to lose control. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

[Hooligan]

So far what I've heard is that he had a malfunction with his jackplate causing a loss of control.

[J Francho]

That's a scary notion. There was a recent loose outboard incident up here that killed one, and maimed another.

[grampa1114]

Is there a speed limit under bridges?

[5bass]

Is there a speed limit under bridges?

Some yes. Some no. It differs from lake to lake.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Honestly, we wont know until Shin or the camera man comes out and says what happened. I read somewhere that Shin may have been reaching for something that was rolling around on the floor of the boat when it happened. Hopefully they both get better. This is just another case of why you should wear a PFD. Imagine if that was you on the water (not in a tourney), and you hit something and did the damage he did. Recipe for disaster.

[Deb]

The word from FLW yesterday at the weigh in was that yes, he was reaching for an object rolling around in the floor.

A very good friend witnessed the accident. He said they were NOT running full throttle, thank goodness. Both were alert after the impact.

Shin had said on Sat at the weigh in that Sun is his birthday and he wanted to give himself the win as a birthday present. He may have given it away

Wake up people and pay attention!!!

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Gulley sustained ‘internal injuries’ during June 19 boating mishap on Kentucky Lake

20.Jun.2011

FLW Outdoors officials have spoken to the family of the person injured in Sunday’s one-boat accident during the FLW Tour event on Kentucky Lake. Mary Ann Gulley has confirmed that her son, Robert Gulley, was a cameraman injured on a boat driven by competitor Shinichi Fukae when the boat struck the Highway 79 Bridge near Paris, Tenn.

At about 11:30 a.m. Central time today, Mrs. Gulley referred questions from FLW Outdoors officials to South Carolina angler Michael Murphy, a close family friend and Robert’s practice partner on the FLW Tour.

“Robert was involved in an accident and was riding in the passenger side of the boat when they struck the bridge,” Murphy said. “Robert was not ejected from the boat, but he did hit the console and received internal injuries from the impact. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville where he spent the night in the intensive care unit and remains there now. He is showing signs of improvement. He is eating and drinking, and the doctors feel he is in the clear, but they are going to continue to monitor him. If everything progresses like it is, they will remove him from the ICU and into a regular room.”

“Shin (Fukae) is coming to visit Robert this afternoon,” Murphy added. “We are all good friends, like family.”

[Glenn]

Gotta love the FLW press release that barely mentioned it:

Fukae was involved in a one-boat accident during Sunday’s competition and unable to attend weigh-in as a result. Fukae was treated for minor injuries and released and his cameraman was taken to a Nashville hospital for further observation.

Talk about a severe understatement!

[Bass Dude]

Saw on another site that they were reaching for a seat that was rolling around and when they looked up, they were heading for the bridge.

Be careful out there....kinda like talking on the phone and driving. It's no joke, you need to pay attention 100% of the time.