The City of Harrisburg is facing a lawsuit following a deadly boating accident at the Dock Street Dam on the Susquehanna River. The incident, which occurred in April 2023, resulted in the death of Michael Brook and severe injuries to Elijah Rothell. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday (April 9), claims that the city failed to take adequate precautions to prevent such accidents, despite being aware of the dangers associated with the dam.
According to the lawsuit, Brook and Rothell were on a fishing trip when their boat stalled and drifted into the dam's exclusion zone without warning. The plaintiffs argue that the city did not comply with the Dam Safety Act, which mandates the marking of dangerous areas with signs and buoys. Attorney Devon Jacob, representing the plaintiffs, stated, "It is horrific that a city would act with complete disregard for the safety of its citizens after notice people being killed by a dangerous condition created by the city" (Local21 News).
Jacob also noted that over 30 people have died at the Dock Street Dam since its construction in 1913. The lawsuit seeks to hold the city accountable for not securing the necessary permits for safety measures from the Fish and Boat Commission (ABC27). The city has yet to respond to requests for comment.