Drunk Bass Boat Operator Kills Woman on Kentucky Lake

A Murfreesboro woman and mother was killed July 2 while pontooning with her family on Kentucky Lake. A bass boat, reported to be going as much as 40 mph slammed into the pontoon boat at 5:50 p.m.  The operator of the bass boat, David Phelps age 37 was given a field sobriety test and charged with boating under the influence.

At impact both the 47 year old mother and her 16 year old daughter were thrown out of the pontoon boat. The mother could not be revived, the 16 year old was life flighted to Vanderbilt.

Mr. Phelps was by himself in his bass boat, and apparently getting an early start on the 4th of July holiday.  There is just no excuse for a 37 year old man being so incredibly irresponsible, and it's probably not the first time he has acted in this way. Drunk and running full out on a lake with other boats that cannot possibly get out of your way?  And then hitting someone broadside in daylight conditions?  When people ask me "What is a wrongful death claim?", this is an example. For more information about wrongful death see here. For more information about this event, click here.