The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigation a deadly boat crash that took the life of 65-year-old Matthew Burlington on Bartlett Lake.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, March 8, 2021 at approximately 10:43 a.m., Bartlett Lake Patrol Deputies responded to the fatal boat crash involving two bass boats just north of Rattlesnake Cove.
Mr. Burlington was operating his Nitro bass boat, traveling north along the west side of the lake north of Rattlesnake Cove. This is contrary to the traffic pattern, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The second boat was being operated by two adult males, ages 61 and 72. The Nitro bass boat #2 was traveling south along the west side of the lake north of Rattlesnake Cove. This area is marked with hazard buoy’s warning boaters of a submerged reef. As boat #2 was traveling south along the buoy line, the boat being operated by Mr. Burlington suddenly altered its course by turning directly into boat #2’s path. The operator of boat #2 was unable to make an evasive maneuver and ramped over Mr. Burlington’s boat.
All three men were ejected into the water. The two adult males in boat #2 sustained minor injuries and were both wearing personal floatation devices. Mr. Burlington sustained traumatic life-threatening injuries upon impact.
The investigation has revealed that impairment did not contribute to this collision.