TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

1 Seriously Hurt After Boating Accident

ADVERTISEMENT

By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: June 9, 2008

Updated: 06/10/2008 11:23 am

LAKE PLACID — A collision between a personal watercraft and a ski boat Monday evening sent one juvenile to Florida Hospital Lake Placid while a second victim had to be airlifted to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition.

The operator of the personal watercraft remained in serious condition Tuesday morning at Tampa General, according to hospital spokeswoman Ellen Fiss.

The accident happened on Lake Placid, according to Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

It was reported earlier that it happened on Lake Childs. Lake Placid used to be called Lake Childs, said Morse, wanting to clear up any confusion.

The sheriff's office received the 911 call at 5:15 p.m. Monday, said Highlands County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Kramer.

Riley Martin, 13, was treated and released from Florida Hospital, according to Morse. She bumped her head, he said.

Erin James, 32, of Cape Coral, suffered impact trauma and was transported in serious condition to Tampa, Morse said. Fish and Wildlife investigators have not been able to interview James because she was not conscious, he said.

Riley Martin was riding in the 20-foot Angler runabout, which is a type of ski boat. Shannon Martin, 37, of Okeechobee was operating the boat. Morse did not know how or if the Martins were related.

The boat, which was borrowed, was towing a tube with two passengers, who were not injured. Five people were in the boat. All were wearing life vests, Morse said.

James was operating a Yamaha personal watercraft (PWC).

"The incident happened well off shore," Morse said. "There were no obstacles causing visual problems. The two vessels were heading toward each other when one turned right and the other turned left into each other's path. The boat ran over the PWC."

The personal watercraft sunk, partially filling with water. It was still able to float to some extent.
No alcohol was involved, Morse said.

At least two fishermen helped pull James from the water. They put her on the boat and headed to shore. They started CPR on James until EMS arrived, Morse said.

"The fishermen were gone by the time FWC officers arrived," Morse said.

Safe rules of boating dictate that both vessels should have turned right to avoid a head-on collision, Morse said. The second rule which may have been violated, is that boats pulling a tube have the right of way, however, it is possible the driver of the personal watercraft may not have been able to see the tube.

When there is any question as to who has the right of way, both vessels are to give way.
Because both operators were older than 21, under Florida law, neither one was required to take a boaters safety course before getting out on the lake.

"We suspect operator error," Morse said, not saying which boater was at fault. "I don't know how much experience either operator had. Neither of the vessel operators was required to have a boaters safety card."

To operate a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater (including personal watercrafts), a person 21 years of age or younger must have completed a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or passed an approved equivalency exam, according to the Florida Online Boating Safety Course and Exam at http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/index.htm .

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT