Police and Fire News

Clam fishing takes a life in Little Pleasant Bay

Man killed by lightning while boating in Orleans

Vicious storm hits region hard and takes a life at sea
Interview with Fire Chief William Quinn and Police Detective Kevin Higgins

Orleans police and fire personnel discuss rescue at Portanimicut Road Landing in South Orleans yesterday.

ORLEANS - 42-year-old Christopher West was struck on a boat in Pleasant Bay in Orleans late Wednesday afternoon.

67-year-old John Jonason, also of Eastham, witnessed the strike and was treated and released at Cape Cod Hospital.

Mr. Jonason was killed by a lightning strike Wednesday afternoon while apparently clamming from his boat in South Orleans as fierce rainstorms battered Cape Cod and the Islands yesterday afternoon. Captain Burge of the Orleans Fire Department said the man was killed while fishing in his clam boat on Little Pleasant Bay in South Orleans.

The Fire Department received a boat rescue call around 5:30 p.m. and, along with the Orleans Harbormaster, found the man dead and alone in his boat east of Sipson Island. After determining the condition of the victim, the harbormaster towed his boat to the Portanimicut Road Landing. Orleans Police then contacted the Massachusetts State Police, who dispatched the Cape and Islands Detective Unit to investigate.

Orleans Fire Chief William Quinn said the storms came up suddenly turing day to night in a matter of a few minutes. He said it was possible for anyone enjoying the day fishing who was not watching the horizon to be caught unaware.

Video by David G. Curran.