Image Source: MRT

An elderly man lost his life after a party boat capsized Saturday on Lake Conroe, according to NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston.

In an incident reminiscent of the tragic 2018 duck boat accident, the 1860s-style double deck riverboat was carrying 53 adults and children when it overturned during a strong thunderstorm.

The boat was apparently 40 minutes into its 90-minute cruise on Lake Conroe (about 40 miles north of Houston, Texas) when it capsized.

Video shows witnesses scrambling to pull victims from the water while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

Sadly, 80-year-old Karl Katzenberger of Montgomery, Texas, died at the hospital from his injuries.

A woman who had a panic attack was also taken to the hospital, accompanied by her husband.

The remaining passengers were all pulled from the water and accounted for, including at least one child as young as 18 months old.

The passengers were covered in diesel fuel from the incident and had to be rinsed off.

The boat accident is under investigation, but the thunderstorm is expected to have contributed.

Why Boat Accidents Happen

A vessel can capsize because of many factors, including human error, weather conditions, equipment failure, poor maintenance practices, or the wake of other vessels.

It’s often a combination of these factors that causes boats to overturn.

Boating accidents can be terrifying, leaving victims with both physical injuries and psychological trauma.

Passengers, like those on the Lake Conroe party boat, trust commercial boat operators to ensure their safety. Vessel operators are required to perform regular maintenance and inspections to ensure vessel safety.

Those who fail to do so must be held accountable, and the cause of these incidents must be thoroughly investigated to understand who is at fault.

Experienced Maritime Attorneys on Your Side

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a boating accident because of another party’s negligence, or if you’ve lost a loved one in such an incident, an experienced maritime attorney can help you get justice.

The experienced maritime injury attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. specialize in maritime personal injury and wrongful death cases. We have decades of combined experience—and the skills needed to help you get the most favorable outcome.

Our attorneys can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of a boat accident. There are strict time limits for filing a claim related to vessel accidents, so don’t wait. Contact our office today at (800) 836-5830.