Coast Guard still investigating parasailing death
Published: December 3, 2011
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
ST. THOMAS -The Coast Guard continues to investigate a fatal parasailing excursion that killed a woman and seriously injured her daughter during a cruise ship shore excursion Nov. 15 about 1 mile south of Water Island.
A medical examiner pronounced Bernice Kraftcheck, 60, of Round Lake, Ill., dead at the West Indian Co. dock that afternoon. Her daughter, Danielle Haese, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., was hospitalized overnight at Schneider Hospital.
"We're trying to determine if there is any evidence of misconduct, inattention to duty or willful violation that may have contributed to this event," said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad. "I'm not saying at this point that is or is not the case."
It is unclear what caused the tandem riders to fall from the parachute and harnessed rig.
Castrodad said the women hit the water at the same time.
Ten Coast Guard members from St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and the mainland are conducting a maritime casualty investigation, which considers a complex body of evidence, Castrodad said.
The investigation checked the operators from Caribbean Watersports and Tours for drug and alcohol shortly after the accident, Castrodad said.
Two crew members operated the Turtle, which carried five passengers during the excursion.
The commercial vessel passed an annual Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection on Jan. 6, Castrodad said.
"That's the vessel, not the equipment," Castrodad said.
The commercial inspection gives the Coast Guard jurisdiction over the accident, he added.
The Coast Guard does not regulate the recreational equipment used in parasailing.
"At this time we don't have the expertise to say, 'Hey, we know all about parasailing,' " Castrodad said.
The Coast Guard investigator, however, is versed in parasailing problems.
"We have an investigator that's probably the lead expert in the Coast Guard on parasailing incidents," Castrodad said.
The investigation will consider the operator's past record, to rule out any potential negligence or misconduct allegations, Castrodad said.
"They're going to try their best to identify the causal factors," Castrodad said. "They'll be developing their investigation report with the intent of developing recommendations that could prevent this type of accident."
Caribbean Watersports has voluntarily discontinued all parasailing tours, Castrodad said.
- Contact reporter Michael Todd at 774-8772 ext. 304 or email mtodd@dailynews.vi.
To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.
Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.
