A Lincoln man died after two boats collided on the Nanticoke River near Seaford Saturday morning, said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes of the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement.
Robert M. Messick, 56, was a passenger in a boat driven by Philips G. Craft, 63, of Seaford. The crash occurred about 9 a.m., shortly after both vessels left the Seaford public boat ramp to participate in a fishing tournament organized by a local bass fishing club.
The boat operated by Craft slowed and turned to avoid a log in the water as it approached the Route 13 bridge near Seaford, and was struck from the rear by a boat driven by Kevin Pase, 51, of Milford, Rhodes said.
Messick, a non-swimmer who was not wearing a life jacket, was ejected and did not resurface, Rhodes said.
Messick was located several hours later by Seaford Fire Department divers and pronounced dead at the scene by Sussex County Emergency Medical, Sgt. Rhodes said. Cause of death is pending the report from the Delaware Medical Examiner’s Office.
Craft was taken to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. No one else was injured. An investigation into the crash is continuing, Rhodes said.
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