Boat Fatalities Highest in Ten Years in Minnesota

Minnesota closed out 2015 with its highest level of boating fatalities in a decade.

Preliminary figures from the DNR show the state had 18 boating-related deaths last year.

That is the most since 23 people died in 2005.

Officials say it’s an unhappy by-product of ideal spring, summer and fall weather that drew boaters out in droves.

Of the 18 fatalities, 10 were men ages 20 to 60 years old who weren’t wearing life jackets.

October was the deadliest month, with five people killed while boating on Minnesota lakes.