The operator of the boat has cooperated with investigators, and no criminal charges have been filed
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 57-year-old woman died after she became “entangled” in a propeller while boating on a Wisconsin lake on April 16
- First responders were able to free the victim, but she was pronounced dead at the scene
- An investigation is ongoing
A 57-year-old woman is dead after she got caught in a boat’s propeller while docking at a Wisconsin lake.
On Thursday, April 16, at 8 p.m. local time, police and first responders rushed to Gordy’s Marine, located at 320 Lake Street in Fontana, following a request for a water rescue, the Fontana Police Department said in a statement. A preliminary investigation later revealed that a 57-year-old woman had fallen off a motorized vessel into Geneva Lake while the boat was in the process of being docked.
The victim then “became entangled in the watercraft’s propeller,” police said. While emergency responders were able to free the woman from the propeller, they couldn’t save her. The 57-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
The boat operator has cooperated with investigators, and no criminal charges have been filed. According to police, officials do not believe alcohol was a factor in the fatal incident.
Located in Walworth County, Geneva Lake encompasses 5,401 acres and has a maximum depth of 135 feet, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Popular for fishing and boating, the lake is home to a popular resort area known as "the Newport of the West,” according to a tourism website.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation into the woman’s death. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the department corroborated information shared by police.
"Around 8 p.m. on Thursday April 16, a boat with three occupants was attempting to dock on the waters of Lake Geneva in Fontana, WI," the Washington Department of Natural Resources noted in their statement. "During the docking attempt, a 57-year-old female (Wisconsin resident) fell into the water and was struck by the boat. The victim was removed from the water but later pronounced deceased at the scene. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is actively investigating the fatal boat accident in conjunction with the Fontana Police Department and Walworth County Sheriff."
The Fontana Police Department and the Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for further information.
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