A BC Coroner’s report on the boat crash that killed two young men on Osoyoos Lake in 2019 lists drug use and speed as contributing factors.

The report by Coroner Andrew Cave cites that the cause was accidental with the use of methamphetamine to be a factor.
Additionally, he writes that the high speed of 100 kilometres per hour and low visibility on the lake were also factors that played a role in the accident.

“At the time of the incident the sky was clear and the sun was low. This caused significant reflection off the lake’s surface, reducing visibility for any person facing west. The water was calm, further adding to the reflection of the sun,” the report states.

The incident took place on June 8, 2019 when a collision between two boats occurred. One of the boats sunk while the other was partially submerged.

Nicholas Brendan Trask, 36, of Maple Ridge, and Ryan Peter Ellison,35 of Kamloops, were the two young men in the sunken boat. The report indicates that Trask was the passenger while Ellison was the operator.

They were first declared to be missing and then dead when they were found by the RCMP underwater dive team two days after the crash.

Trask and Ellison were camping that day when they decided to head out on the lake in their 1975 Cobra Lopeo Ski, heading west by northwest. At the same time, the other boat, a 2008 North River Pursuit, was on the west side of the lake, heading east by northeast.

The Canada Shipping Act and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea provide regulations on navigation rules for water vessels.

The coroner says these regulations would dictate that due to the location of the two boats the North River was the give-way vessel and the Cobra was the stand-on vessel, but ultimately both vessels were responsible to maintain a speed to take evasive actions to avoid a collision.

A give-way vessel is required to keep out of the way of other vessels, while a stand-on vessel must maintain its course and speed.
The coroner states that the Cobra’s ignition switch was in the on position and the throttle was in the full forward position. The other boat’s throttle was in the reverse position.

The investigation determined that the North River boat had three occupants, who were taken to hospital following the crash.
According to the report, the Cobra was travelling approximately 100 kilometres per hour, while the North River was travelling approximately 49 kilometres per hour.

Cave indicates that both boats maintained a straight trajectory towards each other. The bow of the North River struck the port side of the Cobra at the bow end.

“The collision caused the North River to rotate counter-clockwise and pass over the Cobra. The Cobra deviated slightly clockwise and sank immediately.”

The coroner states that Trask died of multiple blunt force injuries, and a toxicology examination detected no substances in his body.

Cave states that Ellison did not possess a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, but his family reported that he owned the boat and was familiar with its operation.

An autopsy report indicated that Ellison died of multiple blunt force injuries. The toxicology exam detected methamphetamine in his body, a concentration associated with “recreational use.”

This drug is a central nervous system stimulant that can lead to erratic behaviour, agitation, paranoia and aggression.
Cave made no recommendations in his report.