This is one bad accident. Look at the boat after it hit the tree at 30mph at night. Sadly a life was lost and 3 injured. Prayers to the family.

http://www.wday.com/news/3814337-update-victim-identified-fatal-boating-accident-devils-lake

Wow.. Prayers to all involved.

I never get on plane at night.. You just never know!

That story's not hard to decipher. 2:45 am, blasting across a lake in pitch black...

30mph is not "blasting" across the lake.

Dang

I wonder how they confirm the MPH...

The thing is, it didn't have to happen. Families are torn apart due to negligence. If it's dark, anything past idle is too fast. Prayers to the families.

Very sad. My room mate and brother borrowed my boat one night to fish RH. My room mate was driving and hit a tree right in the fork of it. The boat launched into the air. It ejected both of them and somehow the boat kicked into neutral and circled right back to them. They had someone looking after them that night!! My brothers thigh was cut really bad all the way to the bone. They are both lucky to be here. This was in the middle of the lake in 40 FOW. And also at 11:00 at night.

Prayers sent for the family of this tragic accident.

Sad deal there.

Everything changes at night. I do get my boat on plane (barely), but I only fish areas of a lake I know extremely well. Even then there's always a chance of a floater or something. I worry about other boats more than obstructions because of where I run, but try to keep my head on a swivel regardless.

If it's a lake that I know I will go faster than idle down the lake at night. I use extreme caution and never run wide open or wot. Idle is not really a good option on busy lakes even after dark as it puts you in the middle of the lake at a very slow speed. If I don't know the lake I get off of it in plenty of time to not worry about that. I also use gps and waypoints to help out. They will keep you on the right track back to ramp etc. I will say while I am by no means an expert in the boating field there are far to many people on the water that have no business there and are dangerous during the day time and extremely dangerous after dark. It's a horrible end to any baiting trip and one that I hope everyone can avoid.

I fish at night all the time. I never get on plane at night in an area I do not know extremely well. I also keep a spotlight in my hand and constantly use it to verify where I am and where obstructions are. It's very easy at night to be off track and not be where you think you are.

I was on a lake (before day break) that I know very well. I just got on plane but not WOT and hit a floater. I was seconds from WOT and it could have been disastrous. When I hit it, all I saw was $$$$ signs.

Prayers

Sad deal. I'm surprised how damaged that boat looks for only 30 mph, wonder if they would have been better off in a glass boat?