Missing Boater Found Dead After Collision On Lake St. Clair; Alcohol Possibly A Factor

LAKE ST. CLAIR (WWJ) - Police say divers have recovered the body of a 43-year-old Chesterfield Township woman who was reported missing after two boats collided on Lake St. Clair.

The accident happened just after 8 p.m. Friday in Anchor Bay, about a mile north of MacRay Harbor.

Witnesses told police that a 27-foot Sea Ray boat was drifting in the water when it was struck by a 30-foot Eliminator boat that was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham.

"That collision forced four people into the water. Two people on the drifting vessel were ejected and the two people on the 30-foot vessel were also ejected," he said.

Another boat that was in the area stopped to help the overboard passengers.

"The driver of the 30-foot vessel was injured," said Wickersham. "His wife was still in the water and at some point, went under."

Emergency crews responded to the scene, but Tamara Urick was nowhere to be found.

Urick's husband was transported to McLaren Hospital with serious injures. All others declined medical treatment at the scene.

Dive teams were called to the area and after hours of searching, pulled Urick's lifeless body from the water around 1 a.m. Saturday.

Wickersham said no one involved was wearing a life-jacket, and alcohol might have been a factor.

"A statement made by the operator of the 30-foot vessel indicated that he had a drink at dinner," he said. "Our investigators did secure a search warrant for his blood at which point we will send that to the MSP crime lab and wait for results."

Wickersham said it's too early to tell if charges will be brought in the case

"In this situation, we have many independent witnesses, which is very helpful in our investigation," he said. "If the 27-foot Sea Ray that was just drifting had its lights on, which has been reported, obviously then it would be the other operator's responsibility to avoid that collision."

The accident remains under investigation.