Charges possible in boat vs. Seadoo crash

VERNON – Charges may be laid under the Canada Shipping Act after two boats crashed on Okanagan Lake over the weekend.

Emergency services were called out to the Fintry area around 11:30 a.m. Sunday after a fishing boat and a jet boat collided.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the 18-foot Seadoo bowrider was traveling west at approximately 15-20 knots when it struck an older model 16-foot Hourston Glascraft outboard fishing boat, going 2-4 knots.

“The two boats were traveling directly at one another until the operator of the Hourston attempted to get out of the way at the last minute,” Molendyk says.

The Hourston veered to the right, causing the jet boat to broadside the fishing boat, launching it out of the water and on top. The boat’s hull was smashed in the impact while the bow-rider was only scraped.

The sole occupant of the fishing boat was taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital for treatment of a sprained or broken ankle. The six people in the jet boat were uninjured.

Police determined under the Canada Shipping Act collision regulations, both vessels had the responsibility to alter course. They continue to investigate and say it’s possible charges will be laid.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was edited at 2:50 p.m. Aug. 25 to add a photo.