An early morning explosion rocked the peaceful scene at Eagle Pointe Harbor in St. Joseph today and authorities are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong. Just minutes after 8:30 this morning, Sunday, June 19th, several agencies were dispatched to the marina along Niles Road in St. Joseph Township on word that a boat had exploded while entering the mouth of the marina from the St. Joseph River.
Police reports say that a 26-foot vessel being operated by 63 year old Kenneth Warren was entering the marina with his 61 year old wife Barbara Warren on board. They were trying to hobble back to their slip at the popular marina after suffering engine malfunctions when an explosion ripped apart the engine compartment.
As a result of the explosion, Barbara sustained serious burns and her husband suffered minor injuries. Authorities say that a Good Samaritan in the marina raced to their rescue in his own small boat and went aboard to help resolve the issue.
Shortly after the Good Samaritan reached out to help, authorities from several agencies converged on the scene including the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, that unit's Marine Divsion, the St. Joseph Township Police and Fire Departments both showed up along with St. Joseph City Public Safety Officers, and units from Medic One Ambulance and Lakeland Healthcare.
Once Barbara Warren was administered to at Lakeland Healthcare in St. Joseph it was determined that her burns warranted an immediate transfer by airlifting to the Bronson Hospital Burn Unit in Kalamazoo.
There is still no immediate indication as to the cause and origin of the explosion and resulting fire, and they remain under investigation according to Berrien County Sheriff's Marine Division Lt. Martin Kurtz IV. The Warrens are residents of White Pigeon according to authorities, but maintain a slip at Eagle Pointe Harbor.
It appears that no other watercraft were damaged by the explosion, and no other boaters sustained injuries as a result of the incident. Barbara Warren's condition at Bronson was not immediately reported this evening.
