Disabled Vessel Near Ripley

A vessel operated by Daniel Sehnke of Northeast, PA, was disabled in Lake Erie off the Town of Ripley Tuesday afternoon, and got some help from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office navigation division.

Deputies say Sehnke was unable to operate the vessel due to a mechanical failure and it drifted into shallow water in the area of RJ's Campground in Ripley. A Good Samaritan from the campground assisted the owner and three passengers. They were able to hold the boat off the rocks until the navigation unit arrived at the scene.

The four occupants were then helped up a cliff to safety.