In a moment that could have ended catastrophically, a pontoon driver cut between a tow boat operator and the boat he was towing last weekend, nearly capsizing the tow boat and destroying the tow line in the process.
Now the tow boat operator is asking the public for help identifying the rogue boater.
The incident happened on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 4:27 p.m., at the 18 Mile Marker — in front of Backwater Jacks' cove.
Chris Stockton, owner of Upstream Towing, was towing a disabled vessel when he says a black tritoon came up alongside his port side. The pontoon driver then altered their course to cut between Stockton's towboat — which he emphasized was operating with red and blue lights flashing — and the vessel being towed, Stockton said.
"Every one on my boat and the customers behind me were SCREAMING and waving at the top of lungs as I was blasting my horn with my RED/BLUE lights on," Stockton wrote in a Facebook post about the incident. Despite the warnings, he says the pontoon did not change course but instead ran over his tow line. The in-tow boat was cut loose by the pontoon crossing the line, but Stockton says the pontoon began dragging his towboat sideways, rolling it nearly to the point of capsizing. "Thankfully I keep a sharp knife on my tow post for this exact reason," he said. "I cut the line just as my boat was being rolled sideways."
Meanwhile, Stockton reported the group on the pontoon quickly freed their propeller from the line and drove away into Backwater Jack's cove.
Stockton said he contacted the Water Patrol, but they were unable to find the boat.
"All people on my side are OK," he said, adding, "these people were drunk idiots and owe me a tow line and need to reevaluate their boating abilities."
The Boat's Description:
• Black tritoon — Stockton thought likely either a Bentley, Bennington, or Harris
• Hardtop
• White outboard motor
• Hawkeyes flag
• Between 6 – 10 people middle aged and older aboard.
Stockton is asking anyone with information to contact him at 573-434-0963 or upstreamtowing@gmail.com; or call the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
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