Oakland County Woman Charged with Drunken Boating in Accident that Injured Swimmer

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A 24-year-old Royal Oak woman was arrested for drunken boating Sunday after she allegedly struck a swimmer with her jet ski and pinned him against a pontoon boat, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said.

The accident occurred about 4:20 p.m. on Middle Straits Lake. The sheriff’s office’s marine unit was dispatched, along with West Bloomfield Township police and fire departments.

The victim, a 60-year-old man from West Bloomfield Township, sustained multiple broken bones in the accident.

According to the report, the Royal Oak woman stood up on her jet ski, lost control and drove into the swim area of West Acres Beach. She allegedly struck the swimmer who was standing up in the water at the time, “sandwiching” him between the personal watercraft and a pontoon boat.

The jet ski continued to strike the side of the other watercraft until other boaters brought it to a stop.

The victim was transported to Huron valley Hospital, where he was last reported in stable condition. His injuries were not life threatening. There were no other injuries.

The jet ski operator was taken into custody for operating while intoxicated (watercraft) and operating without a boater’s safety certificate. She was transported to the Oakland County Jail, where she awaits arraignment.