Warden Encourages Life Preservers Following Conviction

3/1/12 – A local DNR Warden says there is a valuable lesson to learn from the recent conviction of a Dane County man in connection with a fatal boating accident. In July of 2010, Adam Walsh crashed his jet ski into a bass boat on the Wisconsin River in Columbia County. The 22-year-old Walsh said the setting sun reflecting off the water blinded him. All four occupants in the boat were ejected; two were injured and 21-year-old Joseph Pfuhl of Poynette was killed. None of them were wearing a life-preserver. Columbia County Conservation Warden Paul Nadolski says if they were wearing a Personal Floatation Device, none of them would have had to swim to survive. Neither Walsh, nor the operator of the boat had taken the required boating education course

either. Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Troy Cross says recreational watercraft may be fun but people still have to take the necessary safety precautions to help prevent this type of accident. Walsh was originally charged with felony Homicide By Intoxicated Operation of a Motor Vehicle but pleaded “no contested” to three misdemeanor counts of Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle. He was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution