Posted 8/25/2009 05:32:00 PM by Douglas

I'm not going to laugh at people getting swept into the sea and drowning, but seriously, this isn't Bill's fault.

Rangers at Acadia National Park insisted Monday that they had done all they could to warn visitors before beauty suddenly turned brutal, launching a hurricane-generated wave over a group of gawkers, dragging several into the roiling Atlantic and killing a 7-year-old girl.

The wave swept over 20 people, 11 of whom were taken to the hospital with injuries including broken bones from being slammed onto the rocks, officials said. Several people were tossed into the water, and all but three managed to pull themselves out.

Spectators eager to take in the views of dramatic surf began filling up Acadia, about 75 miles east of Augusta, the state capital, on Sunday morning, Chief Ranger Stuart West said. As the tide rose, generating even bigger waves, 10,000 people eventually parked along the road to view the waves spun off by Bill, West said.

What the hell? 10,000 people at Thunder Hole (my nickname in college, btw) and they're surprised when a hurricane sweeps them into the sea?

A little after noon, a huge wave crashed into the shore, sucking the visitors out to sea. The Coast Guard responded shortly afterward to a call from rangers and dispatched a boat and two aircraft.

The Coast Guard, eh? In Texas, we ignore the storm warnings at our own risk, so why do yankee Coast Guard have to risk their lives when yankees fall into the drink?