Man hurt in collision of personal watercraft
The collision of two personal watercraft at Blue Marsh Lake in Bern Township left one man injured, according to park officials.
The crash occurred about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, in the main section of the waterway across the lake from the beach, said park ranger Nathan Freiwald.
Two personal watercraft — often referred to by the trademarked name Jet Skis — each with a male driver, he said.
One driver was unhurt, while the other was taken to the nearest boat launch by a fisherman who was nearby. From there he was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital.
His condition was unavailable, but he suffered what appeared to be nonlife-threatening injuries to an upper leg and hip, Freiwald said.
The cause of the collision was not clear, he said.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is investigating, as it always looks into watercraft accidents in the state, but agency officials were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
There have been at least one or two similar crashes on the lake this summer, as typically happens each year, and none have been fatal, Freiwald said.
Those crashes illustrate how important it is to drive personal watercraft safely, especially since some models can reach 75 mph, he said.
Park rangers often find those driving the watercraft have not taken the boater safety course required by the state, which is a mistake that can increase the chances of a crash occurring, he said.
“It’s like driving a car without a driver’s license,” he said.
Park rangers often find those driving the watercraft have not taken the boater safety course required by the state, which is a mistake that can increase the chances of a crash occurring.