Marine Unit Deputies Investigate Boat Crash On Lake Tarpon; Deputies Say Wearing Life Vest Saved Injured Man's Life
Release Number: 09-226
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Marine Unit
Robert Gollobin (Boat Operator- Injured)
DOB: 12/19/1943
Address: 7525 Arbordale Drive, Port Richey
Vessel: 18-foot Mirage - go fast boat
William T. Dunphy (Witness -provided assistance to injured operator)
DOB: 09/17/1963
Address: 402 Carlyle Boulevard, Palm Harbor
What: Marine Unit deputies are investigating a boat crash on Lake Tarpon in which one man was seriously injured. The operator of the vessel was assisted by a witness on another vessel, who placed him aboard his boat and brought him to shore.
Marine Unit deputies credit the injured boat operator's survival to the fact that he was wearing his life jacket.
Where: The crash occurred on the northeast end of Tarpon Lake.
When: The crash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2009.
How/Why: Marine Unit deputies are investigating a boat crash on Lake Tarpon in which one man was seriously injured. The crash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at the northeast end of Tarpon Lake.
According to deputies the vessel operated by 65-year-old Robert Gollobin was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on the northeast end of Tarpon Lake. Witnesses told deputies that at one point the vessel became airborne, and flipped ejecting Gollobin off the boat.
A nearby boater, identified as 46-year-old William T. Dunphy witnessed the incident and rendered assistance to Gollobin by putting him on his boat and transporting him to the Landsbrook Subdivision boat ramp.
Gollobin was subsequently transported by air to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of life threatening injuries.
Marine Unit deputies credit the injured boat operator's survival to the fact that he was wearing his life jacket.
Deputies say the vessel sank to the bottom of the lake.
The investigation continues.
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