I love the sarcasm adam_p. think the responder thought you were serious. have a good one.

The investigation is still ongoing, but officials say they have not yet determined how fast the boat was traveling when it hit the tree, and also had not concluded whether or not alcohol was a factor.

The tree was jutting out horizontally over the water behind the Rio Drive home of April Graupner.

Graupner said Monday the tree had been hanging in that position over the water for nearly two months, since lake levels had begun to go down.

Rio Drive residents, including Graupner and her neighbor Rob Miller, said they had attempted numerous times to have the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority remove the tree and another one like it further upstream.

7 people in a ski boat running up a river at night, did not see you put that in red? how come?

You left the part out about it being the property owners responsibility since it was still in the ground. The tree was still hovering above the water line meaning that it was still the property of whomever owns the land where the tree goes into the ground.

It appears that the homeowner was trying to shuck off their responsibility on to a government agency so they didn't have to take ownership of their problem.

Amen Greg!

Unfortunately, accidents often occur as a result of multiple compounding errors:

1. Homeowner could have had the tree removed for safety, but didn't. Maybe the fact that the tree was overhanging/in the water was a complicating factor - - how many private homeowners or tree removal services can do that job fully?

2. The authorities could have had the tree removed for safety, but didn't. I'll bet they try to ensure safety whenever possible, but perhaps bureaucracy or lack of funding hampered their efforts, who knows.

Sure seems like a joint effort between the homeowner and the authorities was needed - - why was that so hard to make happen? Most likely cause - - $$$.

3. The boat driver could have proceeded much more cautiously for safety, but didn't. This is the top cause of the accident in my mind. Alcohol? Who knows - - not all people in ski boats are drunk idiots, but some are. More likely that excessive speed at night just made reaction time too low to avoid the tree once they saw it.

But in the end it once again reminds us all to be very careful out there, and it's a good post in that regard!

Very sad. Instead of trying to place blame, how about just remembering that boating at night can be very dangerous and reminding everyone to be careful out there. Prayers with the passengers and their families.

Good point FB!

Need a spotlight at night.

most of the park rangers are only interested in giving tickets on the lake.Perfect example,go to Lake Fork and you can see bouy markers beached on banks,have been that way for months maybe years.Instead of recovering them and placing them where they belong.Its sad,I have seen bouys out of place and they are very dangerous The rangers dont seem to give a damn.Just giving tickets for slot fish or something else stupid.Where are all of our fees going????????????Replace thhhhhhhhhose rangers with some that will take care of our waters.All they do is walk around banks with their little shorts and six shooters thinking they are wyatt earp or something!!!!

How is giving tickets for slot fish stupid? If you are dumb enough to put a slot fish in your livewell, you DESERVE a ticket.

Agree,but I have seen many tickets given out during tournaments(macdonalds) where the wardens twist the tail so much,that it looks they are going to pull fish apart,in order to give out tickets.One time,the ruler to measure the fish was barely off(same one used and recommended at tournaments,person even placed ruler side by side and complained,and didnt make a difference.I think this is bull!!!!now to keep a slot fish if its obvious,then sock it to them.

There was another tree in the water up river from that one, wasn't as big though.

SEVEN PEOPLE INJURED!

Everyone in the boat should sue its Owner/Driver for reckless endangerment with injuries and then turn around and sue each other for being stupid enough to overload the boat.

Those things are against the law - stupid ain't!