2 boats collide on Lake Michigan near Racine; multiple people injured
RACINE, Wis. - Two boats crashed Sunday night, June 23, in Racine, sending people onboard into Lake Michigan and a child to the hospital.
According to the Racine County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to Lake Michigan, just east of the Reefpoint Marina, for a report of two boats involved in a significant collision around 9 p.m.
Initial information was that there were several individuals in the water with unknown injuries. While en route, deputies were informed that a third boat was on scene aiding the victims.
Racine boat accident
The initial investigation appears to show that one boat was operating at a higher rate of speed when it collided with the second boat.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
As Aftab Ansari walks past all the boats in Reefpoint Marina on Monday, June 24, he can’t help but think of the ones that crashed the night before.
Racine boat accident
"Most people are pretty responsible. Particularly the boats you see here," Ansari said. "They are not really speeding boats."
Racine County investigators say someone was drunk and speeding when their boat hit another boat about a mile offshore.
Lt. Michael Luell said one boat had three people onboard, and the other had 11 passengers. At least three people went into the water and a child was hurt.
Racine boat accident
"I would hope and pray that all of those individuals would be wearing their life jackets. I don’t know that right now," Luell said. "One juvenile was flighted with some head injuries. We’re obviously very concerned about that."
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.
Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson said no arrests have been made, and therefore, there are no criminal charges to review as of Monday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said there were 28 boating fatalities in the state during all of last year. Only one of them was wearing a life jacket.
"This was an unfortunate situation, but it could have been a lot, lot worse," Luell said.
The DNR continues to investigate.