Investigation Continues Into Charter Boat Explosion; Teen's Body Recovered

[PressRoom-GFN]

DENVER, N.C. (June 11, 2008) – Investigators say it will be at least next week before they finish their examination of the charter boat that exploded and burned at Westport Marina Tuesday, leaving one teen dead and a former NASCAR crew chief and three other people with minor injuries.

Former NASCAR crew chief Cliff Champion owned the 80-foot boat and the business, Championship Yacht Charters, that had operated on Lake Norman for a decade.

Killed in the accident was Nathan Coppick, 19, who was refueling the boat when the explosion occurred. His body was found Wednesday evening when the boat was retrieved from the lake where it sank within hours after the blast and ensuing fire.

Surveillance tape shows the explosion apparently occurred on the dock and then spread to the boat. Fire investigators have said there was no indication of negligence or wrongdoing in connection with the accident.

Officer Scott Loflin with North Carolina Wildlife told WSOC-TV the horrific boat fire was “the perfect storm.” He said the boat's charred remains had made it difficult to pinpoint the cause.

“We had a large explosion. We had a flash point,” Loflin told Charlotte's ABC affiliate. "We know we had some vapors and some kind of ignition. We might not ever be able to determine exactly what happened."

Several agencies have assisted in the investigation, including Charlotte's ATF agents, SBI fire investigators, EPA, and OSHA. Lincoln County's fire marshal will make the final determination of what caused the explosion and subsequent fire.

Champion was Benny Parsons' crew chief 1983-86 and it was during this time that the team he headed won the Ingersoll-Rand Pit Crew Championship. He also worked with Alan Kulwicki and long-time friend Ricky Rudd before deciding to start his charter business on Lake Norman about a decade ago. In his business, he worked closely with the racing community, providing charters for competitors, sponsors, race teams and Lowe's Motor Speedway. On May 17, he hosted an Appreciation Day for the Armed Forces, providing a day of cruises for troops from Fort Bragg and Fort Jackson and Marines from Camp Lejeune.

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