Family's lake outing goes ends in tragedy on crowded boat (Part 1)    Charges May Follow Drownings (Part 2)

A family Fourth of July outing on the water turned tragic Wednesday evening when an overloaded boat sank, leaving two children dead. The 10-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl were rushed to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. The girl was in Robco Lake for more than 30 minutes before rescuers found her. The 310-acre lake is in southwest Memphis just north of the state line.

Although early reports indicated eight people were in the boat, police now believe it was six -- two adults and four children. It was unclear if anyone was wearing a life jacket.

Three other people were in stable condition at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis Wednesday night.

Friends and family at a home on West Holmes that backs up to the lake said it was a simple Independence Day gathering that went terribly awry.

"It was a family outing and the boat just capsized. It just went under," said Claire Christian, a family friend. "We just panicked. Most of the family members got everyone out."

Just before 7 p.m., neighbor Leo Brown heard screams as he pulled into his driveway, a few houses down from the gathering. "I realized that people were in trouble. I saw a girl and she was holding a baby," said Brown, 54, who stripped off his pants and jumped in the water. "I couldn't think to do anything but go in."

Brown helped that girl and the toddler to shore, then went back after another girl, he said.

By the time Memphis Fire Department rescue personnel arrived, the 11-year-old girl was the only passenger missing from the boat, which sank at least 50 yards from shore in water 15 feet deep. Firefighters pulled off their shoes and waded in, wearing life jackets. A small civilian boat was launched to help in the search. "We immediately got in the water in groups of two," said firefighter Ryan Jones. Jones was near the civilian boat while another firefighter in the boat used a long pole to feel around the bottom of the lake to try to find the girl." He felt like he grabbed something. I swam down, felt around and realized I had a girl," said Jones, still dripping with lake water. "We got her up and got her in the boat."

Memphis police said the johnboat -- a flat-bottomed aluminum fishing boat about 10 to 12 feet long -- should have had only two or three people in it. "The boat was overcrowded," said Lt. Ralph Peperone, adding that charges could be filed when the investigation is complete. "Any time you have a situation like that, you can face consequences."

Safety experts say tragedy could have been averted

July 6, 2007
A boating accident that led to the Wednesday drowning of an 11-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy at Robco Lake in Southwest Memphis could lead to charges, according to the Memphis Police Department.

Experts in boating and children's safety indicate the tragedy could have been avoided had proper procedures and laws been followed. A joint investigation between the Memphis Police and Fire Department revealed that Carnisha Banks, 11, and Karlton Parker, 10, were two of six children in the small johnboat, along with four adults. The boat was also equipped with an outboard motor.

In a johnboat 10 to 12 feet long, Coast Guard certified occupancy will allow for no more than two adults, said Lanny Oakes, a boating safety instructor for the state. Tennessee and federal law require that all children 12 and under be wearing life jackets.

"It's a classic drowning situation, per Coast Guard records and reports," Oakes said. "It was a calm day, calm weather, calm water -- and, apparently, no life jackets."

MPD spokesman Vince Higgins said an investigation is ongoing into whether negligence or criminal activity led to the accident. He said the department will focus on whether laws and boating regulations set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency were followed.

Family members gathered Thursday at 1987 West Holmes Road, a house bordering the lake, declined interview requests. The residue of a typical 4th of July celebration was evident outside the home -- spent firecracker casings, empty cardboard beer containers in the recycling bin.

Property records list the homeowner as Kenny Banks.

A neighbor, Leo Brown, was credited by the fire department as one of the rescuers who averted further drownings. When Brown arrived at his house, two doors down, he heard screaming, so he stripped down to his boxers before swimming out to rescue a woman and small child.

Brown said the woman was struggling to stay afloat with the child; he said he did not see anyone wearing a life jacket.

Fire department personnel recently certified as technicians in swift water rescue arrived in time to help two adults who were beginning to struggle in the deep water -- about 15 feet deep -- searching for Carnisha Banks, the 11-year-old girl. She was eventually found at the bottom of the lake, and, like Parker, later pronounced dead at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center.

Four more children and three adults were also transported to hospitals. They were treated and released.

According to Le Bonheur, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14 and the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children age 1-4. The hospital typically sees 30-40 cases per year of children involved in drowning situations.

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