Marina Owner ‘Critical but Stable’ After Buffalo Poker Run Accident

Chris Overcamp, the proprietor of family-owned Bow and Stern Marine, Inc., a full-service powerboat dealership and marina in North Tonawanda, N.Y., is currently in “critical but stable” condition in a Buffalo-area hospital after an accident this morning during the Buffalo Poker Run. Overcamp and his wife, Nicholle, were ejected from their 30-foot Spectre catamaran with three outboards engines when the boat reporedly tripped and rolled while turning off Gratwick Park.

Captured here during the 2015 Buffalo Poker Run, this 30-foot Spectre catamaran was involved in a serious solo-boat accident this morning during the 2016 event. Photo courtesy/copyright Tim Sharkey/Sharkey Images.

According to Steve McKie, the president of the Western New York Offshore Powerboat Association, the organizer for the annual charitable event, Overcamp is in a medically induced coma for the serious head trauma he sustained in the crash. In addition to the head injury, Overcamp reportedly sustained a broken shoulder and vertebrae. His wife was uninjured.

McKie, who had the event’s Emergency Medical Technician team on board his boat during the event, said he arrived at the accident scene within three minutes, where fellow participants—including one trained paramedic—were already assisting the Overcamps.

“I was positioned, about a mile up-river from where the accident happened,” said McKie. “Other poker-runners were already in the water helping them. The Sheriff’s boat arrived within another minute. The current moved us almost directly in front of the launch ramp so we were able to get them out immediately.

“Because we are diligent about keeping records, we were able to tell the Coast Guard that there were only two people on board and that they didn’t have to search the area below the boat for other victims,” he added.

Most of the participants in the 85-boat event continued on to the lunch and eventually completed the poker run. This evening’s award banquet and fundraising auction will proceed as scheduled.

“With heavy hearts we are going on with our dinner and auction,” McKie said. “We have two charities this year, Excalibur Leisure Services and the Leah Manth/Raising Awareness and Funding for NF2 organization. We’re going to raise $7,000 for each of them.”

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