Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On September 4, 2023, at approximately 9:10 am, Lac du Bonnet RCMP received a report of a boating collision on the Winnipeg River near the bridge off Riverland Road. Officers met those involved at the Lac du Bonnet town dock.
It was determined that a fishing boat with two occupants – a male driver and female passenger, both 65 and from the RM of Lac du Bonnet – was travelling southbound on the Winnipeg River when it struck a log floating in the water. As a result, the female fell off the boat, sending her backward into the water, where she hit the propeller of the boat.
A nearby boat with three occupants saw the collision and rushed over to assist in getting the female out of the water. They then transported the male and female to the Lac du Bonnet town dock. Upon arrival at the dock, the female was found to have life-threatening injuries. In assisting on-scene EMS, who were managing the serious injuries, CPR was started by an RCMP officer. That aid was provided for approximately 45 minutes, when the female was then taken by STARS to Winnipeg hospital.
On September 6, 2023, the female succumbed to her injuries.
Lac du Bonnet RCMP, a RCMP Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, and the RCMP Inland Water Transport Unit continue to investigate.