The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published August 30, 2023

Sunrise Beach woman dies when boat hits breakwater

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – A Sunrise Beach woman is dead after a boat hit a breakwater last Saturday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) at 7:42 p.m. at the 24 Mile Marker of the Main Channel, a 2008 32 foot Crownline boat, driven by Bobby Childers, 60, of Sunrise Beach, MO, was traveling north “operating too close to a dock” when it struck a large wake and hit the breakwater.

A passenger in the boat, Nicolette McKenna, 44, of Sunrise Beach, MO, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:48 p.m. by Camden County Medical Examiner Crystal Lloyd.

Childers received moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, MO.

Two more occupants, Connor Wilkie, 21, of Kansas City, MO, and Curtis Wilkie, 49, also of Kansas City, MO, suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.

The boat was totaled in the crash. None of those on board were wearing a life jacket.

At 9:11 p.m., Bobby Childers was charged with Boating While Intoxicated – Death of Another and Careless and Imprudent Operation.

He was released for medical treatment.

Earlier that day (6:00 p.m.) a PWC accident injured a Parkville man.

At that time a 2018 Sea-Doo was being driven by Matthew Kissinger, 23, of Parkville, MO, on the Gravois Arm in Morgan County when he tried to jump a wake and was ejected from the vessel.

Kissinger suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. He was wearing a life jacket. The Sea-Doo had no damage.

That Saturday started off with a capsizing that injured two people in Camden County.

A 2005 MTI Catamaran was southbound at the Three Mile Marker of the Grand Glaize Arm when the vessel’s engine lost power causing the boat to rotate counterclockwise to the port side.

The vessel began to take on water and partially sunk.

James Darr, 60, of Kirksville, MO, was operating the steering of the vessel and suffered moderate injuries. He was taken by EMS to Lake Regional Hospital.

Anthony Smith, 30, of Osage Beach, MO, was operating the throttle and was not injured.

Cheree Ball, 54, also of Kirksville, MO, received moderate injuries and was taken by EMS to Lake Regional Hospital. None of the three were wearing a life jacket. The boat had moderate damage.

Last Friday at 1:35 p.m. at the 40 Mile Marker of the Main Channel, Michael McCoy, 41, of Lees Summit, MO, was operating an unknown make boat when the engine overheated causing a fire.

McCoy was uninjured in the accident but the boat was totaled. He was wearing a life jacket.