On 6/2/13, at about 19:30 hrs, i received a call from sgt. stating that a boating accident had occurred on lake gaston at edwards beach.  The information received was that a young male was swimming and was struck by a jet ski.  The subject was being transported to halifax regional medical center for treatment.

Upon my arrival at halifax regional medical center, i met with the father of victim1, who is the young male that was struck by the jet ski.  Father stated that victim1 was standing in the water close to the bank along with two others, who were sitting on a tube.  Father stated that operator was driving the jet ski on the lake and turned back heading to shore.  Father stated that when operator came back to shore that he did not stop and that the jet ski ran over victim1, and hit the tube that the two girls were sitting on.  Father stated that he picked his son up and handed him to other people that then placed him into a vehicle to transport him to the hospital.

Father stated that he was about 10 feet from victim1 when he was hit by the jet ski, but that everything happened so quickly that he was not able to do anything.  Father stated that victim1 had his back to the jet ski and did not see it coming at him.  Father stated that he was not sure if the jet ski malfunctioned or if operator was just going too fast when he came back to the shore.

Operator stated that he took the jet ski out on the lake because it was not running correctly, and he was trying to evaluate it.  Operator stated that the throttle would hesitate and the jet ski engine would rev up, causing it to take off.  Operator stated that when he was coming back to shore, that the engine reved up and the jet ski took off.  Operator stated that before he got to shore, the engine cut off and he tried to turn the jet ski to avoid colliding with the victims.  However, when the engine cut off, the jet ski would not steer.  Operator stated that he was yelling at the victims to move and watch out.  Operator stated that Father picked up victim1 out of the water then laid him back down.  Operator stated that he then picked up victim1 and placed him in his vehicle to transport him to the hospital.

I spoke with a witness to the incident.  Witness stated that she had just stepped out of the port-a-john when observed operator trying to turn the jet ski before it struck the victims.

Victim1 received eight stitches to the back of his head for a laceration.  All test performed by doctors on victim1 came back negative.  All test performed by doctors on the other two victims came back negative.  All three victims were treated and released from the hospital.

Operator was issued a citation for careless and reckless operation of a pwc.

I spoke with several people at the hospital that were present at the lake when the incident occurred.  However, the only witnesses were operator and Father.
HENRICO