Iowa sees increase in boat accidents

DES MOINES, Iowa – A record number of boating accidents in Iowa have led to high fatality numbers, according to in a report today in the Des Moines Register.

So far, 17 people have drowned, which is higher than most annual totals, and 8 people have died in boating accidents, the same number as died in the four prior years combined.

The state’s total boating accidents so far this year – 48 – is already two higher than last year’s total, and the season is only half over.

A state safety officer speculated in a newspaper interview that the increases may be due to the large number of people getting out on the water during the unusually hot summer.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources gave the newspaper another possible explanation – that people are simply getting better at reporting accidents to authorities as the DNR becomes more visible.

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