A mother and daughter lost their lives Tuesday afternoon when a family fishing trip on the York River took a turn for the worst.
According to a preliminary investigation by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kimberly Marie Privette, 35, of Hopewell, Va. and her nine-year-old daughter died Tuesday when their boat overturned near the Croaker boat landing at York River State Park.
DGIF does not release the names of minors.
There were four survivors: Phillip Wayne Privette, 34, of Hopewell, husband and father of the two victims; Charles Derwood Blake, 68, of Hopewell, the young girl’s grandfather; Wilton Artis Green III, 43, of Hopewell, a family friend; and Phillip Privette’s 17-year-old nephew.
Phillip Privette was the operator of the boat and Blake is the owner of the boat.
According to DGIF’s preliminary report, the group spent the morning fishing on the York River. At around noon, while halfway between Croaker Landing and West Point, the family decided to return to shore.
“Once they got underway, they started to take water over the bow and their bilge pump stopped pumping water,” the report stated. “The boat started to bog down and they plugged in a secondary bilge pump. It was unable pump out the incoming water.”
The occupants then started the motor, in the hopes that the movement would push the water out of the vessel. Once moving, the water from the bow of the boat came rushing back, causing the boat to capsize and three boaters, including Kimberly Privette and her daughter, fell overboard. They were both wearing life jackets.
The mother and daughter became trapped under the boat, where investigators believe they remained from 12:30 p.m. to 2:38 p.m., when a passerby was able to rescue them and call for help.
First responders included DGIF, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, James City County Police Department, James City County Fire and Rescue Squad, West Point Police Department and the U.S. Navy.
All six people were pulled from the water, two of whom were unconscious and required CPR. They were then transported to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Hospital, where Kimberly Privette and her daughter died.
The four survivors did not accept medical assistance and were released from the hospital.
The incident is still under investigation but it has been determined that no alcohol was involved.