Powerboat Crash In Lake Michigan Kills Woman, Injures 2 Others

CHICAGO — One woman was killed and two people were rescued Thursday after a powerboat crashed into a jetty and capsized on Lake Michigan, authorities said. The collision took place shortly before 4 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Lake Shore Drive.

A 28-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were rescued from the water and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where they were listed in good condition, according to police.

Jason Lach, deputy district chief of marine dive operations for the Chicago Fire Department, told reporters that rescuers found the 27-year-old woman about 45 minutes later and about 500 meters east of the site of the crash.

"Because of the high water, they probably didn't see the jetty at night," Lach said. "With the high water levels, some of the barriers that are in place for erosion become unable to be seen."

Conservation police identified the woman who died as Jessica Ceja, according to WLS-TV. A witness told the station the boat appeared to be travelling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash. Fire officials said none of the three people on the boat were wearing life preservers at the time.