Fishing Trip 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/archives/j27inquest.htm
Jury rules drownings accidental
In other news, a coroner's jury ruled that three men who drowned after their fishing boat capsized in the Des Plaines River near Channahon on Aug. 17 died accidentally.
William Weaver, 58, of Chicago; John Gaters, 58, of Dolton; and Otis Brown, 59, of Chicago; were fishing in a boat that was more than 110 pounds over its 450-pound weight capacity. The men had loaded their three-person boat with fishing gear, coolers, a trolling motor and anchors, according to inquest testimony.
They were fishing in 17 feet of choppy water with 25-mph winds creating waves as high as 4 feet. There were no flotation devices inside the boat, and they were not wearing life jackets.
There were 2 inches between the water line and the top of the boat once it was fully loaded.
A barge tender reportedly saw the three men in the boat shortly after 7 a.m. The same barge tender spotted their capsized boat about four hours later. Submitted on 10/09/2002
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
Joliet Herald News 9/27/2002
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