Updated: Duck hunter dies after boat capsizes in Stafford creek

8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19

A man found in the waters of the Aquia Creek at the confluence of the Potomac River died Thursday.

Daniel Stuart Curran, 58, of Bowling Green, Virginia, died after the 16-foot Polar Craft fishing boat he and his son-in-law were duck hunting on capsized. The boat became entangled in a gill net and started to take on water, according to a preliminary report by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Curran was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Mullins and Thompson Funeral Home.

Curran’s 32-year-old son-in-law, Charles Brooks Jr., also of Bowling Green, was able to swim ashore. Brooks was alert when he was taken to a local hospital, according to the report.

Investigators are still looking into the incident and plan to release a more detailed report when more information becomes available. 

Rescue units from Stafford County, Quantico and Maryland were called in to assist in the rescue effort on Thursday.

4:20 p.m. 

Stafford County officials have turned over the investigation of the boating accident to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

That department investigated a fatal crash involving a boat that collided with a pylon in Aquia Creek earlier this year.

12:12 p.m.

Two people were safely pulled to shore after a boat capsized at the confluence of the Potomac River and Aquia Creek.

A fishing boat overturned about 11:37 a.m., sending one person into the water. Fire and rescue crews called to the scene pulled that man from the water, said Stafford Fire and Rescue Asst. Battalion Chief Mark Doyle.

Another man and a dog were still out in the water. The dog was spotted standing on the hull of the capsized boat and was pulled to safety, said Doyle. The missing man was found a short time later and was pulled to the shore.

“His condition remains unknown at this time,” said Doyle.

The men put their boat in the water about 6 a.m. for the purpose of hunting ducks.

An investigation is underway. And, according to reports, the boat has been secured and is being left in place in the water for the time being.

Noon 

One person is missing and a search is underway on Aquia Creek.

A small fishing boat, called a Jon boat, capsized about 11:37 a.m. off the shores of Stafford County. Fire and rescue crews and a Maryland State Police helicopter are now involved in the search for the missing boater, according to initial reports.

At least one person was on board the boat with a dog when it capsized. A dog was seen standing on top of the boat when rescue crews went into the water looking for the missing man, according to initial reports. The search began when one man was able to make it ashore to a residence on Canterbury Drive in Stafford, according to initial reports.

Several water rescue boats from Stafford County are involved in the search, as is a water rescue boat dispatched from Quantico Marine Corps Base, according to initial reports.

Aquia Creek pours into the Potomac River. Several people live along the banks of the creek which is also home to Aquia Landing Park.

We’ll have more on this as it develops.