Was Riding With His Son When His Watercraft Was Struck By One Operated By Second Son

Retired astronaut Alan Poindexter was fatally injured Sunday when the personal watercraft he was on with his 22-year-old son was struck by a second PWC operated by his 26-year-old son.

According to a report in the Pensacola News Journal, Poindexter, 51 (pictured in NASA photo), was idle in the water on Little Sabine Bay off Pensacola Beach with his younger son Sunday afternoon when his older son hit the rear of the craft they were on. Poindexter was thrown into the water, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Commission. Poindexter was pulled from the water and taken to the beach where friends administred CPR. He was airlifted to Baptist Hospital, where he died of injuries suffered in the crash.

Neitherr of Pointdexters sons was injured in the accident.

Poindexter had a 10-year career with NASA, during which he piloted two space shuttle missions, including one which delivered the Columbus module to the ISS n 2010. He was the son of President Reagan's national security advisor Adm. John Poindexter, who was involved in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration.

Poindexter retired from the space agency in December, 2010. The accident is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, which looks into all accidents on Florida waters, according to FWC public information officer Stan Kirkland.

FMI: http://myfwc.com/