Miller Boat Line Recognized for Plane Rescue on Lake Erie

A Captain and three crewmen from the passenger/vehicle ferry service, Miller Boat Line, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, will be honored with a Certificate of Appreciation given by the ODNR Division of Watercraft, at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 15, 2010, at the Miller Ferry Dock, Catawba Island, Ohio.

The award will be given by Chief Pamela Dillon, head of the ODNR Division of Watercraft, Columbus, Ohio. The honor of "lifesaving efforts" will be given to Captain Steve Rose and crew members Jacob Market, Bernie Wise, and Greg Johnson. The four men were working aboard a Lake Erie Islands ferry, the William Market, on the morning of Friday, August 13, 2010, when a single engine privately owned plane crashed into the lake near the Miller Ferry Lime Kiln Dock, Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Captain Rose responded to the accident quickly, and smoothly brought the ferry alongside the four plane victims in the water, the crew threw life rings, then rescued and brought the victims aboard the ferry.

The downed plane sank in less than two minutes. All four plane passengers were unhurt and taken to the Put-in-Bay Miller Ferry Dock where they were treated then released by the Put-in-Bay E.M.S. The plane was attempting to land at the Put-in-Bay Airport when it lost engine power.