A year later, friends mark boater’s death with memorial

Published 4:04 pm Monday, October 5, 2009

More than 30 people gathered at the boat ramp at Allan Yorke Park to remember a friend who was killed in a September 2008 boating accident on Lake Tapps.

Bonney Lake resident Ronald Scott died Sept. 29, 2008, after his 18-foot Bayline was struck by a boat driven by Neil Larsen about 10:30 p.m.

Two women aboard Scott’s boat suffered major injuries in the accident, which occurred near Interlake Island.

Scott’s friends got together and placed a memorial in his remembrance at the boat launch near the park.

They unveiled a black granite plaque with a picture of Scott in the middle. Several of his friends walked to the plaque and touched his image engraved in stone. Others cried and hugged one another, remembering that tragic night.

Also inscribed on the plaque is, “Your memory will never die. With love from survivors and friends.”

A palm tree was placed at the site. Mayor Neil Johnson attended the ceremony.

“We’ve talked about it and all of us wanted to do something for Ron,” Billy Knapp said. “He was a good friend.”

Knapp said he headed up the memorial idea, “but everyone came in to contribute.”

Knapp said the group of Ron’s friends went out asking for help on preparing the memorial.

“We had to go out and ask for donations and a couple of places turned us down, but we were persistent,” he said.

“A lot of people heard about the accident and they don’t want to see it happen again. That’s why we have it right here and if hopefully some good can come out of it. Just boat responsibly.”

He said he and others just want a safer lake for everyone.

Knapp said Scott moved to Lake Tapps about 10 years ago and worked as a real estate agent and was owner of a Wilkeson bar. It wasn’t long before he started making friends and inviting them to go boating on the lake.

“He loved to boat. He loved the mountain, he loved the sunset, and he loved the peacefulness,” Knapp said.

The night of the accident, six people were on Scott’s boat.

Knapp said most of the people injured recently went back to work, 11 months after the accident.

“It ruined a lot of lives and a friend is gone forever,” Knapp said. “It has effected everyone from my mother to my children.”

Four survivors from the accident walked to the end of one of the piers and tossed four flowers into Lake Tapps.

“We need to be able to enjoy the lake and not worry about someone acting irresponsible and ruining lives forever,” Knapp added.

Pierce County prosecutors charged Larsen with one count of watercraft homicide and four counts of watercraft assault.

Larsen’s attorney entered not guilty pleas in October in Pierce County Superior Court and Judge Lisa Worswick released him on his own recognizance.