Aug 7 - Fatalities on Lake Simcoe

Aug 7 - Fatalities on Lake Simcoe . Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 7th, South Simcoe Police were called to the government dock at the north end of the 30th Sideroad, in Big Bay Point, Innisfil. Police learned that a dive school had been training approximately 30 metres off the end of the dock, when a boat passed through between the dock and the dive marker. One of the divers, a 30 year old Toronto woman, was struck by the boat and sustained a serious head injury. Fellow divers came to her aid and performed CPR at the scene. Ambulance paramedics attended and rushed the victim to Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, where she later died of her injuries. She has been identified as 30 year old Aviva Barth. Police believe the driver of the boat was unaware of the accident, as the boat continued on its way west toward the Barrie area. Witnesses were able to provide a description, and police continue to investigate. Drivers or occupants of boats that were in the Big Bay Point area of Lake Simcoe at approximately 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 7 are asked to call Police at 705-436-2141 or 905-775-3311, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477. A team of 6 officers from the Traffic & Marine Branch have investigated over 100 boats, and report having several leads. Police are also investigating 2 separate drowning incidents. On Aug. 7, at about 7 a.m., four men left from Keffer’s Marina in Keswick, on a fishing trip on Lake Simcoe. Shortly after 1 p.m., their 14’ aluminum boat capsized in Cook’s Bay, approximately 5 km. from shore. A passing boater pulled 3 of the men from the water, and transported them to Crate’s Marine, where they were met by York Region Emergency Medical Services. Two Toronto men were transported to Southlake Regional Health Centre with minor injuries; the third, 51 year old John Phen of Toronto, was pronounced dead. York Regional Police Air Support and Marine Units, working with the OPP, Ministry of Natural Resources, Georgina Island Police, and South Simcoe Police, continued to search for a 4th boater. At about 7:45 p.m. on August 10th, Police recovered the body of Winston Pereira, 38, of Richmond Hill. On Sunday, Aug. 8, between 6:30 and 7 p.m., a Georgina resident observed a riderless SeaDoo on the Lake, and called Police. York Regional Police Marine Unit, with the assistance of a helicopter from Trenton, launched a search for the owner of the craft, identified as 41 year old Gary Corbiere of Georgina. Corbiere had left the Virginia Beach Marina at approximately 6 p.m. At 10:20 a.m. on Aug. 12, workers at Virginia Beach Marina discovered the body of the missing man, between Duclos Point and Georgina Island. Police wish to remind boaters that, even though it is summer, hypothermia is still a concern on Lake Simcoe. Boaters are urged to ensure that equipment and safety devices are in working order before venturing out onto the water, and to wear a life jacket or PFD.