Joke on boat leads to four deaths

Wow. People need to be careful. 6 teens drowned in L.A. not to long ago.

How tragic. Imagine the trauma the children on the boat have experienced by witnessing this event.

Difficult to even imagine everyone on a boat not knowing that one or more of the passengers COULD NOT SWIM! It is simply a pillar of gross stupidity that such information is not asked and such questions are not made in such a situation before even getting on the water.

It sounds like the billy bobs didn't have personal flotation devices, however they probably each had 6-packs of their favorite beverages!

I believe this calls for presentation of 4 Darwin awards.

Keep them honest! Get out of the box! Go to internetfreepress!

It's all fun and games until...

One wonders why CNN's ratings remain in the basement.

Untrue statements of Rush Limbough's comments by Aisha Tyler and crew on the Larry King show might be part of the answer.

Tony

Two brothers, one cousin and one family friend. Stupidity or ignorance? Please be careful not to judge. Panic, tragedy, shock, fear, and every other emotion under the sun cause people to REact instead of act. This was a tragedy.

2 of these men are my brothers, 1 my cousin, and the other our dear family friend.

None of you who have posted comments on this story know the facts. There have been details not reported, and media slant is a factor. No one knows how my brother ended up in the water, the very young children who are the only witnesses, are not sure. Media – please don't report "horseplay" as a factor when there is no proof of this.

We grew up around water and boating is our life. These men spent every weekend on that boat. My youngest brother was not a strong swimmer, but he could swim. Almost anyone who owns a boat knows that jumping off the back and swimming in the lake is a part of boating. Did these men make a stupid judgment call when they chose not to wear life jackets? Yes. We all can agree to that. The children have all been taught boat safety and were all wearing life jackets, thank God.

The police report regarding this tragedy states that alcohol was NOT a factor. What caused 4 men to drowned? 55-60 degree water, a strong – unusual – undercurrent, shock, fear and an UNWAVERING, LOVING BOND AND FRIENDSHIP between these men.

Condolences and boating safety reminders are greatly appreciated by my family. Kindly keep your ignorant opinions to yourself.

A memorial to these men and life jacket loaner station are planned for the west boat dock at American Falls Reservoir at the start of boating season 2011.