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Officials: 10 Boating Deaths Recorded in Md.; Victims Not Using Life Jackets

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Two people are killed in two separate boating accidents over the weekend, bringing the total number deaths to 10 for the year.

"Over the course of three hours we added two fatalities to our annual total," said Candy Thomson, a spokesperson with the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

On Sunday night around 6:00 p.m., DNR police responded to a call for a missing kayaker on the Potomac River.

Police say 44-year-old Jason Downs, of Frederick went out kayaking and never returned.

His body was finally recovered early in the morning just feet from the dock.

On the same night, a boat capsized near Rock Hall Harbor along the Eastern Shore with three people on board.

Two were saved, but divers came across the worst Monday morning.

"This morning Natural Resources Police divers found the body of the third man right near the boat," said Thomson.

Last year, Maryland had 21 boating fatalities.

So far this year there's been 10 with several months still to go.

What makes the stories even more tragic, Maryland Natural Resources Police says out of the 10 boating fatalities so far this year, none of the victims were wearing life jackets.

"In many of these cases, help was not far away, help would've arrived in a matter of minutes and a life jacket would've made that difference," said officials.

Thomson says it's heart-wrenching for officers to respond to tragedies that could've been prevented.

And with so many close calls over the last few months this summer could easily be just as devastating as last.

"We could easily be where we were last year, the near misses are just amazing this year," said Thompson.

DNR police say they're unsure how the boat capsized near Rock Hall Harbor and whether it was a mechanical issue or due to last night's storms.

Police say the exact cause of death for both victims is still under investigation. Both are still pending autopsies.

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