Boat accident kills R.I. man

HOLLAND, Mich. -- A Rhode Island man was killed and a Wisconsin man is missing and presumed drowned after a 42-foot power boat carrying four people capsized yesterday on Lake Michigan as the driver was making a turn, authorities said.

The single-boat accident happened about 9:45 a.m. near the western Michigan community of Holland.

A 20-year-old Bristol, R.I., man died from his injuries, and the 42-year-old missing man is from Hartland, Wis., authorities said. Ottawa County sheriff's Sergeant Kevin Allman said the man probably drowned.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Craig Lawrance said the men on board were part of a Smoke on the Water Poker Run that included 60 to 70 boats. He said the boat was speeding from Grand Haven to Holland when the driver overcompensated for a missed turn, slowing from about 110 miles per hour to about 70 miles per hour.

A Coast Guard helicopter and boat were joined by divers from the Ottawa and Allegan county sheriff's departments in a search of the lake yesterday afternoon.

The driver of the boat was taken to Holland Community Hospital for treatment of back injuries, and a fourth man on board was not injured.

Additional information about the men was not immediately released.

Lawrance said the poker run involves boaters making stops at various locations on land and in the water to collect cards for a poker hand.