By Mel Holden?letters to the editor
I have been a resident here for over 40 years and have always had a boat. I do know what the speed is on a boat. And, I know a sailboat always has the right-of-way over a powerboat, because they can”t maneuver as quickly.
It is time to reveal the true story to the good people in Lake County. On the night of April 29, 2006, at approximately 9:05 p.m., out of the dark appeared a 25-foot powerboat. I was standing on the dock at Richmond Park smoking with a friend and we saw the boat make a U-turn heading back toward Konocti. He then opened up the throttle, the bow came up and he was going approximately 55 mph-plus. You can”t see over the bow when it comes up, as the driver”s seat is in the back. I made a remark to my friend that the powerboat driver was driving crazy and going to kill someone.
We watched the boat for several hundred yards under heavy throttle. Approximately less than one-half mile away his boat struck the sailboat, killing Lynn Thornton.
If Officer Perdock was only going 20-25 mph then he would not of had the power to go over the sailboat.
I didn”t realize that officers can do what they want on this lake and get away with it. God Bless the young lady and her family.
Mel Holden
Kelseyville
