MECHANICSVILLE, Md. (September 10, 2012)—The Maryland Natural Resource Police (NRP) report that Lewis Jack Sprouse, 29, of Harwood,
perished in a boating accident around 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, approximately one
mile south of Sheridan Point in the Patuxent River.
Sprouse was fishing a trotline for crabs when his foot got tangled in the line
and he was pulled overboard, striking the boat's propeller. After Sprouse was pulled into the water, witnesses said they saw the boat going in circles then coming to a stop after his body struck the propeller, stalling the engine.
Sprouse was the driver of the boat, a 17-foot Mako.
His body was recovered by Charles County dive team and taken to the Office of
the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
NRP was assisted by the dive team and members of the Benedict Volunteer Fire
Department.