NEWPORT NEWS-- A father and son fishing trip turned deadly Sunday morning.
"It's just horrible, just horrible," boater Gary Ragland said.
Ragland was out fishing.
"It was pretty calm," he said.
All that changed when a Sea Tow boat and 19-foot bass fishing boat collided near the James River Bridge.
"The tow boat driver was ejected from his boat," Lt. jg Scott McBride, a Coast Guard spokesman, said.
The Newport News father and son were stuck inside their boat. The crash killed 13-year-old Lance Brewer, who was an eighth grader at Page Middle School in Gloucester.
"It's sad anytime there's an accident and someone gets killed; it hurts," McBride stated.
The 47-year-old tow boat driver and 58-year old father suffered minor injuries.
The Coast Guard is examining the damage, trying to figure out a cause.
"We will interview both drivers before determining the cause," McBride said.
Ed and Karen Schrader with Sea Tow said Monday, "We are fully cooperating with the Coast Guard’s ongoing investigation into the accident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life; our thoughts and prayers are with the family."
Ragland says bass season just started and it's good time to talk about safety.
"You have to be careful, there's no doubt about it," said Ragland.
The Coast Guard says a Good Samaritan heard the crash and rushed to help the father and son. He used his boat to keep the damaged boat from sinking.
The investigation continues and, depending on the results, the Coast Guard says the driver of commercial boat, identified as Wayne Espinosa, could face a fine, suspension or revocation of license and the driver of the recreational boat, Phillip Brewer, could face a fine.
A Coast Guard rescue boat crew from Station Portsmouth, a Coast Guard rescue helicopter aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City, and Coast Guard Port Security Units responded to the incident alongside a Newport News Fire Department boat crew, a Virginia Marine Resources Commission boat crew and the good Samaritan responded to the scene.
