A boating fatality on the Colorado River is under investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. Public information officer Cindy Bachman said the incident just north of the Interstate 40 freeway was reported at 3:37 p.m. Monday.
“A pontoon boat was traveling south from the Park Moabi channel at a slow rate of speed when it collided with a personal watercraft that was underway north of the no-wake zone,” a press release stated.
“The pontoon boat turned around after impacting the personal watercraft and placed two injured males on board the boat and proceeded to the docks at Topock Marina where they were met by fire department personnel.”
Bachman said a 45-year-old from Moorpark, CA was pronounced dead after life saving measures failed. He was a passenger on the PWC and his name has not been released. She said the juvenile who was operating the PWC was transported to a local hospital and released after minor injuries were treated.
The operator and the three passengers on the pontoon boat were not hurt. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Colorado River substation at 760-326-9200.
Dave Hawkins