YouTube A runaway boat caused property damage and injured 10 people on Lake Gage in Indiana on July 15.
Ten people were injured after they were thrown from an out-of-control boat on an Indiana lake July 15. After all passengers landed in the water, the boat continued around the lake unmanned at a high speed and caused property damage and even more injuries.
Dominique Effinger, 20 of Fort Wayne, was driving the boat when it took a “violent turn” and threw all 10 people on board off of it and into Lake Gage in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a press release.
Two people were flown to a nearby hospital with severe injuries including a fractured skull and a partial arm amputation. Authorities say that four out of the 10 injuries are considered “serious” or “near-fatal.” No additional updates on their condition as of July 16 were given.
Officers said that alcohol appeared to play a factor in the incident, and Effinger was arrested for boating while intoxicated and causing injury as well as being a minor in possession of alcohol.
The boat, a Correct Craft Ski Ski Nautique, was traveling at around 30 m.p.h. when it threw the passengers off and pushed forward at that pace. According to the DNR, conservation Officer Jake Carlile said the boat was eventually stopped after he threw a rope from his patrol boat onto the runaway boat’s propeller. The move helped slow the boat to the point where Carlile could jump on and turn off the motor.
In the video footage, the boat is seen racing around in circles as officers try to corral it. The boat strikes a pier before striking a boat.
“Oh my God,” the male recording the video said.
Eventually, Carlile hops on the boat from a jet ski and turns it off to an applause from the onlookers onshore.
Watch the video of the incident below:
The DNR press release said that several of the injured that were in the lake were “immediately transported” to the shore by citizens and emergency resonders.
The incident remains under investigation.
