By Staff
CASSOPOLIS – Three boating accidents Saturday – two on Diamond Lake and a third on Donnell Lake – kept Cass County marine officers busy.
Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. reported that at 4:07 p.m. June 9 at Diamond Lake in Penn Township an 18-foot Sea Ray inboard boat was being driven by Andrew Jarrick, 23, of Lagrange, Ill., and towing Richard Johnson, 23, of Western Springs, Ill., when the skier fell and injured his shoulder.
Johnson was transported to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac by Life Care Ambulance of Cassopolis for treatment.
The hospital treated and released Johnson.
Deputies said it did not appear that alcohol was involved.
A personal flotation device was being worn at the time.
At 6:28 p.m. June 9, another boating accident occurred on Diamond Lake in Jefferson Township.
Officers reported that Austin Lowe, 20, from Granger, Ind., was operating a personal watercraft and "messing around" in the water when it struck a wave, causing him to hit his knee against the vessel.
Lowe was transported to South Bend, Ind., Memorial Hospital for treatment of his knee injury by Life Care Ambulance of Cassopolis.
The operator was wearing a personal flotation device at the time.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the second accident, which remained under investigation.
Marine officers also handled a boating accident at 5:15 p.m. June 9 on Donnell Lake in Penn Township.
Officers said a pontoon boat floating in the water was being operated by Keith Plummer, 23, of Granger, Ind., when an 18-foot deck boat operated by Jeffrey Rach Jr., 18, of Osceola, Ind., struck the pontoon.
No injuries occurred, but the collision damaged both vessels.
No one was wearing personal flotation devices, but they were available. Alcohol was not involved in the Donnell mishap, which also remained under investigation.