On Saturday August 29, 2009 at about 10:20pm, the Norway House RCMP received a call of a boating accident on Little Playgreen Lake at the 8 Mile Channel at an island about 16 kilometres south of Norway House First Nation.
RCMP were advised that a fishing boat with 11 occupants on board, were involved in an accident and that three occupants (2 males and 1 female) had been ejected. The occupants that remained on the boat had located the two males but could not locate the female.
RCMP were informed that a 20-year-old local resident that was partially ejected was able to get back on the boat while the other 40-year-old had swam to the island.
RCMP attended with the detachment boat and 4 local fisherman’s boats. Two boats, with EMS aboard, tended to the injured. All occupants were brought back to Norway House, while some went for medical treatment. Two boats continued to search for the missing 29-year-old Norway House woman in the area.
On Sunday August 30, 2009, at about 2am, the search was discontinued due to increasing fog. The search resumed that morning with 18 boats. Shortly after 11am, the 29-year-old Norway House woman was located approximately 25 feet from shore in about 6 feet of water. The deceased was transported back to Norway House and next of kin was advised.
While the RCMP continue to investigate, it appears that the boat hit rocks on the western tip of an island. None of the occupants were wearing life jackets at the time of impact. Alcohol is considered a contributing factor to this fatality.
The 20-year-old man that was partially ejected suffered some serious injuries to various areas of his body and was medevaced to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for further medical treatment. The other 40-year-old male suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released in Norway House. Several of the occupants also received treatment locally for various minor and non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the boat was arrested for impaired driving causing bodily harm and brought back to the RCMP detachment. The driver also sustained minor injuries.
The driver of the boat, identified as 37-year-old John Bradley Menow, has been charged with two counts of impaired cause bodily harm, one count of impaired cause death and one count of dangerous operation of a vessel. John Menow is remanded in custody to appear in Thompson Court on September 1, 2009 at 1pm.
RCMP would like to thank the following people and organizations who assisted with the search efforts in various capacity:
Norway House F.N. Chief and Council, local Band Constables, Emergency Medical Service personnel, Minisowin, local Fishermen and Trappers who donated their time and boats, local Ministers and the Fisherman’s Co-op for suppling fuel for the boats.
Cpl. Gord Lethbridge
RCMP Norway House Detachment
(204) 359-6483
Sgt. Line Karpish
RCMP Media Relations
(204) 983-8497
