OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — One of the 43 passengers on a cruise paddleboat that was crashed into over the weekend is speaking out.
Saturday night’s collision happened on the Fox River in Oshkosh.
The owner of the 45-foot powerboat initially fled the scene after crashing into the paddleboat but has since been found and was arrested by Winnebago County Sheriff’s officials Tuesday.
Just a little before 10 p.m. the night of the incident, Becky Meissner of Oshkosh was on “On the Loos Cruises’” two-story paddleboat approaching the Oregon Street Bridge.
That’s when her husband noticed the 45-foot power boat fast approaching.
“He looked out, and he said, ‘That boat is not slowing down!’ and I turned to look, Meissner explained.
Without any warning or time to brace, the powerboat would crash into the port side of the paddle boat in between the Wisconsin Street bridge and the Oregon Street bridge.
“It did rock the boat, where we went one side to the other side,” said Meissner. “I know a lot of the people that were standing on the upper-deck fell down.”
Meissner says, if it hadn’t been for the captain’s quick thinking, the impact and outcome could’ve been much worse.
“If he wouldn’t have turned, he would’ve come straight at us,” she said.
The paddleboat made it safely to shore.
Seven on the cruise boat were hurt.
“They left an accident, there were injuries, so the carelessness with that, you know, something’s gotta be done,” said Meissner.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office was able to locate the powerboat Sunday.
Tuesday, investigators could be seen assessing the damage.
The powerboat appeared to have significant scratches all along the front-left side, as well as dents on the back-right side of the boat, with what looked to be a chipped part of the boat toward the back-left side.
And while Meissner says she knows the name of the owner of the powerboat, she doesn’t know him personally, but says many in the area do.
“It does sound like for a lot of the people that know him, this isn’t as shocking as it should be,” she said.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office says it’s still hoping to find and speak to two of the seven powerboat passengers.
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