3 Hurt in Jet Ski vs Boat Crash
Associated Press - July 28, 2015 7:16 am
CHENEY STATE PARK, Kan. -
Three people were injured in a boating accident reported about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night at Cheney Reservoir.
The accident involved a boat and a jet ski shortly before sunset and was reported at Hobie Beach, part of Cheney Lake. Four people were on board the boat and one juvenile was on the jet ski at the time of the accident.
Two adults from the boat were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The juvenile who was on the jet ski refused treatment at first, but was taken to the hospital later.
Officials pulled the jet ski and the boat involved in the crash out of the water and have them stored near the Cheney State Park offices until investigators can take pictures and measurements as part of the investigation.
Although investigators do not believe lighting or time of day was a factor in the accident, it's still unclear what caused the two vessels to collide. It's still early in the investigation, but officials say it appears the jet ski came up from behind the boat and somehow ended up on top of it.
"Something had to get that jet ski up high to clear the back of that boat, it didn't hit the back of the boat, it hit the top," said Dennis Zehr, boating specialists for the Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism. "It hit and went right through the boat."
One person was arrested for suspicion of use of alcohol but officials are not confirming who that person is or the names of anyone involved, pending the investigation.
Despite Sunday's accident, Zehr said the department is actually seeing fewer and fewer incidents like this one.
"Probably three years ago, we started requiring boating education for youth to operate and we're not seeing, as we advance, we're seeing less accidents because of more knowledge," he said.
Officials say more citations will likely be issued in this case, but it could be weeks before they complete their entire investigation.
Drinking and boating or jet skiing at night? Somebody has a death wish.