«When the death
of a person is caused by the wrongful act, negligence, default, or
breach of contract or
warranty of any person, including those
occurring on navigable waters, and the event would have entitled the person injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued, the person or watercraft that would have been liable in damages if death had not ensued shall be liable for damages as specified in this act notwithstanding the death
of the person injured, although death was caused under circumstances constituting a felony.»