News Release State Senator David J. Tomassoni District 05 317 Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155-1606 Telephone (651) 296-8017 sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn Date: May 1, 2006

Fish Lake tragedy provides sobering reminder of life preserver importance

In the wake of the tragic deaths on Fish Lake last weekend, State Senator Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) and State Senator David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm) wish to remind all Northern Minnesota residents and visitors about the importance of owning and wearing life preservers while boating.

“To lose three young lives in an accident that was preventable is the true tragedy of what happened last weekend on Fish Lake,” said Sen. Tomassoni. “While we think of those lost and their families and loved ones, we also need to use this horrible accident as a reminder that adults and children alike should never head out onto a body of water without life preservers.”

In 2005, the State Legislature passed a bill now known as the Grant Allen Law in honor of Grant Allen Jestus, who drowned while fishing with his father. The 5-year-old boy was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident. The law requires children under 10 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejacket.

“Minnesota is blessed with more than 10,000 lakes to enjoy, but this accident is a reminder that a fun time on the water can turn tragic in a hurry if proper safety measures aren’t taken,” said Sen. Bakk. “Supporters of last year’s law pointed out that boating accidents claim more lives than airplane crashes every year. That underscores the importance of not only having a life preserver, but of wearing it while boating. It’s common sense that saves lives.”