Lake George Boating Tragedy Update

Investigators are continuing to look at the way the Ethan Allen was operated. The owners of the boat, Shoreline Cruises, has had their license suspended after finding that the boat was operating with only one crew member on board. There was supposed to be two members on board given the number of passengers on board.

Investigators have also raised the boat from where it sank and have moved it to a local airport hangar to see whether mechanical failure played a role in the sinking.

As investigators raised the sunken vessel from the bottom of the lake, one grieving relative angrily called the 40-foot, glass-enclosed boat "an accident waiting to happen."

Robert Wrock, whose father, Francis, 87, was among the dead, said through tears: "I was very surprised that they had only one crew person for all those people . . . Who was going to pass out all those life jackets?"

State law does not require life jackets to be worn by adult passengers.

On boats such as the Ethan Allen, life jackets are typically stored overhead between rafters, which would likely have proven nearly impossible for the elderly passengers to reach within the seconds that the boat overturned, experts suggested to the Glens Falls Post Star.

The Ethan Allen's former captain, William Huus, said the boat tended to list to the left when fully loaded because of the way the seats were configured.

But he said he never had a problem with it.

We're also finding out more about the passengers that were killed in the accident. One couple who died was married for more than 50 years.

Technorati: Lake George, capsize, accident.