A personal watercraft landed in a boat sending two people to hospital in an accident on Osoyoos Lake Tuesday afternoon. The watercraft was a rental being operated by an inexperienced 17-year-old female. (Keith Lacey photo)
Two female members of the same extended family were rushed to hospital following an accident on Osoyoos Lake Tuesday where an inexperience personal watercraft operator lost control of her vehicle and crashed the watercraft into the back of a boat.
Just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the Osoyoos RCMP, BC Ambulance personnel and volunteer members with the Osoyoos Fire Department responded to a two-vessel collision on Osoyoos Lake, near Haynes Point Provincial Park, across from the Walnut Beach Resort.
A family from Delta, B.C. was sitting stationary in their powerboat, while two other family members were riding together in a rented personal watercraft.
The personal watercraft was being operated by a 17-year-old female and her aunt was riding on the back when she collided with the powerboat, launching the personal watercraft on to the passenger area of the boat.
The personal watercraft operator and passenger were brought to shore, where they were treated and then transported by air ambulance to Kelowna General Hospital.
The teenage driver was released from the hospital, but her aunt remains admitted with serious but non-life threatening facial injuries.
Fortunately, the other passengers on the boat were not injured.
RCMP say this is a stark reminder of the risks involved when people with very little experience operate a personal watercraft.
Several drops of blood could be seen on the back of the boat after the two injured parties were transported to hospital.
Several guests at the Walnut Beach Resort rushed to the dock to try and lend assistance in the minutes following the accident.
A personal watercraft landed in a boat sending two people to hospital in an accident on Osoyoos Lake Tuesday afternoon. The watercraft was a rental being operated by an inexperienced 17-year-old female. (RCMP photo)
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
