Winni Boat Crash Kills 1: Pilot is President of NH Boating Group
Gilford — June 17, 2008 — One woman was killed and two others injured when a powerboat hit the rocky shore of Diamond Island on Lake Winnipesaukee during a rainstorm early yesterday morning. Killed in the crash was Stephanie Beaudoin, 34, of Meredith, a passenger in a boat operated by Erica Blizzard, 34, of Laconia. New Hampshire Marine Patrol said Blizzard, the manager of a local marina, suffered serious facial injuries. Nicole Shineopules, 34, of Burlington, Mass., was also injured.
The accident remains under investigation. Blizzard was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, then to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, for treatment. Shineopules was taken to Lakes Region for treatment and evaluation.
Marine Patrol said the 37-foot Formula powerboat was traveling southeasterly when it struck the shore about 2:30 a.m. The impact was so great it crushed the bow and tore off parts of the fiberglass hull. Diamond Island is in the southeastern part of the lake, near the much larger Rattlesnake Island, just off from the deepest part of the lake known as the Broads.
The badly damaged powerboat was taken to the Gilford public docks aboard a barge yesterday afternoon, then taken by a Miles Marine boat trailer to a location where investigators will try to determine what caused the accident.
Blizzard is the operations manager at Lakeport Landing Marina on Paugus Bay in Laconia, that is owned by her father, Paul Blizzard of Laconia. The marina is the exclusive dealer in the Lakes Region for the high-performance Formula boats.
She testified earlier this year before the state Legislature in opposition to House Bill 847, which would establish a speed limit for two years on the state’s largest lake. It would set a speed limit of 45 mph in the day and 25 mph at night. Those marina operators and boat owners opposed to the bill argued in favor of boater education and enforcement.
The bill subsequently passed, but has not yet been signed into law by Gov. John Lynch.
State Rep. James Pilliod, a Republican from Belmont and a sponsor of the speed limit legislation, said he was saddened to hear the news. He called Blizzard a passionate businesswoman and advocate for her industry and her customers.
“I’m sorry to hear this,” Pilliod said. “We knew that sooner or later there would be a major accident. This happens to be a very symbolic one.”
It is the second fatal boating accident on Lake Winnipesaukee in the last six years involving a member of a family that owned a marina selling high-performance boats.
Daniel Littlefield, 41, of Meredith, was convicted of negligent homicide in connection with a fatal boating accident on Meredith Bay on Aug. 11, 2002, that claimed the life of John Hartman, of Bedford. He was operating a 36-foot Baja Outlaw, sold by Laconia’s Channel Marine when it was owned by the Littlefield family.
Littlefield, sentenced to 2 1/2 to seven years in jail after his conviction, was paroled last December from New Hampshire State Prison.
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff Writer Dan Tuohy contributed to this report.
2 Responses to “Winni Boat Crash Kills 1: Pilot is President of NH Boating Group”
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Very unfortunate to say the least. However, boating at night, even at moderate speed, in pitch darkness. is always risky buisiness. I hope Pilliod’s comment regarding the inevitable “major accident” does not mean to suggest that it was a result of excessive speed.
I am not in favor of setting boat speed limits. If the state is going to do something to help out the boating community why not try coming down on the folks who mix alcohol and boating. Every weekend, on my lake, I see scores of folks drinking up a storm and then heading off behind the boat wheel.
This accident, as sad as it is, sounds like a result of poor judgement rather than excessive speed. No government in the world can legislate common sense.
While I agree that there should be a speed limit on Winni, I do not want to see the media ‘milk this story for all it’s worth’. The irony is painfully obvious and adding to it would be cruel.
-Miguel
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