Accident on Mille lacs

[BartmanMN]

It sounds like the anchored boater that was hit on Friday night by another boat has died.

Here is the story. Prayers for his family for this awful accident.

At around 10 p.m. Friday night two boats collided about a mile from the east side shore of Mille Lacs Lake. An initial search by divers Friday night into Saturday morning did not turn up a missing man's body, and by Saturday morning no one had heard from the individual. The search will resume shortly, according to sheriff Brent Lindgren.

The boat of the missing man was anchored when another boat collided with it, striking the back end of the anchored vessel. Two people were in the moving boat when the accident occurred.

Names have not been released at this time, but interviews with parties at Appeldoorn's Resort and Fisherman's Wharf have identified operators of both boats as local parties with cabins or trailers near the lake.

Today's release

The body of Tony Centeno, 56, was found Saturday afternoon, Aug. 9, in 10 to 12 feet of water on the east side of Mille Lacs Lake, according to Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent Lindgren.

Centeno was missing since a boating accident Friday night, Aug. 8. His boat had been involved in a collision with another boat around 10 p.m. Centeno's boat was anchored at the time and he was out fishing alone, according to sources close to Centeno at Fisherman's Wharf, where Centeno had a boat slip and residence.

[Walleyehooker]

Sad to hear. Tony was a great guy and his trailer was right next door to me when I used to have a place at the wharf. Wonder what the story is with the other boat and people?

[Tom Sawyer]

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone touched by this tradgic loss of life

[Redlineracer12]

RIP.

[leech~~]

I wonder if he had his lights on when anchored?

[B-man715]

I wonder if he had his lights on when anchored?

And if he had a warning device? Alcohol involved? Any fog on the lake that night?

What a horrible accident. My heart goes out to the family.

[delcecchi]

And if he had a warning device? Alcohol involved? Any fog on the lake that night?

What a horrible accident. My heart goes out to the family.

Warning device?

[ozzie]

like a air horn or spotlight...both of those are good to carry out in the boat when fishing at night. The light saved me from running into my buddies! Scared the you know what out of me and learned how important it is to have one in the boat at night!

[B-man715]

Not only a good idea to have, but also the law on boats 16' and over, both day and night.

Page 21 in the regs goes over horns and whistles.

[Ryan_V]

Awful. How terrible a tragedy. Prayers go out to the victim's family

[Sandmannd]

I've been up there at night and almost hit twice. Sitting out with lights on and boats come screaming across just barely missing us. Had it happen once while I was running. I was able to stop as I don't run full throttle at night just for this reason. Not sure why you have to be wide open at night. Things come up fast in the dark. Mix in some adult beverages and you have some trouble. I don't drink on the water period. You can drink in my boat if you like but if you turn into a drunk you won't be invited back out. You can drink on shore all you want.

[SkunkedAgain]

What isn't required but should be a must-have is a flashlight or spotlight as ozzie mentioned. Most people really don't see the tiny bow and stern lights, but a flashlight shined right at them has a much better chance of gaining their attention, even while drunk.

[sartellangler05]

I've been on Mille lacs at night once. I have a small 14ft aluminum boat, with a 30hp motor. I do have lights, but they aren't bright by any means. I remember being out there at dusk and being a little bit worried with all the huge boats that were flying back into the bay. I am heading up there for the weekend for cousins bachelor on Thursday evening. We are going to do some night fishing. Just curious would it be stupid to bring a large flashlight to flash any boats coming in our direction? Not sure if ppl do this or not, so any input or suggestions.

[Red Miller]

As someone who has spent many nights on the river, the use of the spot light is mainly to locate buoys and nav markers. It is considered bad etiquette to flash and hold your light on another vessel. With that said, many of the boaters on Mille Lacs do not have a clue about the proper operation of a vessel at night (or during the day for that matter). The rules of the road are a foreign language. My advise to you is go ahead and bring the spot and if you see some yahoo heading in your direction on plane, don't hesitate to zap him good with that light.

[luckydog25]

Bring a spot light, just don't blind a guy. Shine it towards them...up and down and side to side until you know they see you.

[DTro]

Sad story

We've resorted to using a flashing orange beacon (used on construction vehicles) on the St Croix River.

It's annoying as h-ell but people sure don't miss us.

[SkunkedAgain]

My advise to you is go ahead and bring the spot and if you see some yahoo heading in your direction on plane, don't hesitate to zap him good with that light.

[hockeybc69]

Search and rescue divers pulled the body of 56-year-old Tony Centeno of Cottage Grove from the bottom of Mille Lacs Lake during the afternoon hours of Aug. 9 after his boat had been involved in a collision the previous night.

At around 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, Centeno’s boat was anchored less than a mile off the eastern shoreline of Mille Lacs near Fisherman’s Wharf where he had a trailer on the property.

Scott Anderson of St. Michael had been neighbors at Fisherman’s Wharf with Centeno for years and said Centeno liked to go out alone and fish the Shaw’s Reef area near Sunset Bay between Appeldoorn’s and Fisherman’s Wharf resorts on Mille Lacs’ east side.

Anderson said he passed by Centeno’s boat at 9:48 p.m. and Centeno was fishing. Not one to stay on the lake past 10 p.m., Anderson said he and other neighbors grew concerned when Centeno did not arrive by that time.

“When boats start coming in, it’s like a neighborhood watch,” said Anderson. “We all pay attention to who comes in and who doesn’t.”

An initial search Friday night into early Saturday morning did not turn up any signs of Centeno. Authorities regrouped around noon Saturday and were able to recover Centeno’s body in 10 to 12 feet of water during the mid-afternoon hours.

According to a press release issued by Lindgren Monday afternoon, the second boat involved in the crash was operated by John Ewert, and his wife, Deirde, was also on board. The Ewerts were traveling eastbound into shore when they collided with Centeno’s boat. Mr. and Mrs. Ewert were examined on shore by medical personnel and neither required further medical treatment.

Centeno was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the crash. The results of an autopsy by the Anoka County Medical Examiner’s Office are still pending.

Both watercrafts have been impounded by the sheriff’s office and are being inventoried as part of the ongoing investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Mille Lacs County Attorney’s Office for review.

[ozzie]

when using a spotlight it isn't needed to flash the boat coming at but just to light up your area so they know u r there like spotlight your boat or shine above there boat or light up the water between u n them. you don't need to blind the other boater just let them know your there

[NELS-BELLS]

This is so sad!

I do enough night fishing and have been out on Mille Lacs after dark enough times to know how dangerous it is. I have to say that the rear nav light on a boat seems to blend in more with shoreline lights on Mille Lacs than on a smaller body of water, probably because the shoreline is usually so far away. If you can see the green/red bow lights, that helps.

I drive my boat much slower after dark.

Nels

[Red Miller]

The boaters in this and all states should be required to pass a test to get their boats licensed. It doesn't have to be the Coast Guard Captains test but at least have a clue what the hell you are doing out there. It is nothing but mayhem with all these ignorant boat drivers zooming around. It is a disgrace to the DNR and an affront to the Sheriff's who have to patrol this mess. You bet its pretty dam sad when a poor guy cant sit in his boat with his anchor light and not get run over by some uneducated fool with a great big boat and not a clue NOR A REQUIREMENT as to what you need to know to safely operate it on public waters. Nothing short of a disgrace!

Don't Blind the guy????? I would do a lot worse than that.

[BrdHunter01]

Tony was a great guy who absolutely loved fishing Mille Lacs. I personally knew Tony and had the pleasure of fishing with him many times. He will be greatly missed by many.

Benefit Tony

The Wharf will also host a benefit Sunday, August 31st.

[live-2-fish]

To many people rely on there GPS to watch where they are going. You have the same thing when it's foggy during the day. You here boats going wide open when you can't see 10'

[MahtowaDave]

A few years back I made the giant mistake of anchoring out of in front of Big Point on a very foggy morning. Turned out that there was a tournament that day with everyone leaving shore at the same time with boats flying by at 40-50 mph on both sides of me. One guy came by us at less than 10 feet. His eyes were as big as mine when we finally saw each other thru the dense fog. He had no idea I was there, nor could he have, and I had no way to get out of the way by the time i heard him coming. Staring at the GPS is no way to travel. Every boat should have a forward and to the side spotter in addition to the driver, although that would still not have helped in the fog. So sad about Tony, the whole east side area is grieving the loss of him. I am not blaming anyone, not tourney bashing, no agenda here, as I have stared down the GPS at times too, just saying that it can be dangerous. We will miss Tony.