06/22/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan

Spotsylvania, VA—A deputy from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office was killed in a weekend boating accident. The accident, which happened Saturday, June 19, 2010, occurred while two officers were on marine patrol, according to information provided by WUSA9.com.

Reports indicated 52-year-old Deputy Dean Ridings and Deputy William E. Schroeder were aboard a 19-foot vessel when it became plagued by a large wake or chain of wakes.

The aquatic turbulence sent Schroeder flying off the boat and into the water. Ridings, on the other hand, violently struck his head on the watercraft.

Schroeder managed to climb back on board the boat and steer it to shore, where emergency medical services (EMS) personnel seemingly awaited their arrival. Both deputies were transported to Mary Washington Hospital to be treated for their injuries.

While Schroeder was treated and subsequently released, Ridings was not so fortunate. Ridings succumbed to his traumatic injuries at approximately 2 p.m. It was not disclosed if he suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) upon hitting his head.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of its own, and this feeling is compounded because both the deceased deputy’s sons currently work for the sheriff’s office,” Sheriff Howard Smith stated. Ridings’ sons were identified as Deputy Gordon Ridings, 28, and Deputy Nicholas Ridings, 24.

The Virginia Department Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Law Enforcement Division is conducting a full probe into the deadly boating accident.

Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Virginia Boating Accident Attorneys.

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