Pinellas County ranks No. 1 in personal watercraft accidents, according to 2008 stats from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Three people were injured in two separate personal watercraft crashes over the Fourth of July Weekend.
The first crash happened about 11:27 a.m. Friday, July 4, when two personal watercrafts collided just north of the Dunedin Causeway Drawbridge.
According to a report from the Dunedin Fire Department, two riders occupied each of the vessels when they collided about 100 feet north of the drawbridge.
One rider, a 43-year-old female, was transported from the scene via ambulance to Mease Dunedin Hospital, the report said. No other injuries were reported.
Dunedin firefighter paramedics were assisted on the scene by marine units from Clearwater Fire Department, Florida Marine Patrol and Honeymoon Island State Park lifeguards.
The second crash happened about 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, on the Intracoastal Waterway between Anclote Island and Three Rooker Bar, according to a report from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said Helena Brown, 15, of Suffolk, Va. and Jason Parker, 29, of Mableton, Ga. left Anclote River Park at about 9:45 a.m. with the intent of riding their personal watercraft for a few hours. Brown and Parker are cousins. They were each riding a 2000 Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft.
Parker and Brown were headed northbound in the Intracoastal Waterway when the two became separated and lost sight of each other, the report said.
Deputies said Parker continued riding northbound. Brown was traveling westbound. The riders saw each other at the last moment but were unable to avoid a collision, the report said. Parker struck Brown on the left side of her personal watercraft, causing both to be ejected.
Brown lost consciousness as a result of the crash. Deputies said Parker returned himself to Anclote River Park and was transported by family to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Marine Unit deputies responded to the scene as did Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue. The Marine Unit transported Brown back to Anclote River Park. Brown was transported by ambulance to Helen Ellis Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Parker was cited with one-count violation of inland navigational rules which deals with the right of way of a vessel in dealing with crossing situations. Deputies determined that in this situation Brown had the right of way.
The investigation continues.
According to a 2008 report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Pinellas County ranked No. 1 for the number of personal watercraft accidents.
During that year, 27 accidents were reported with 13 injuries and no deaths. Pinellas County’s accident rate was 1:323.
Personal watercraft account for 12.8 percent of all registered vessels in the state, the FWC said with 8,721 personal watercrafts registered in Pinellas County.
Statewide in 2008, personal watercrafts were involved in 25 percent, or 168, of boating accidents reported. Of those accidents, 59 percent involved a collision with another vessel, and 13 percent of total boating fatalities were on a personal watercraft.
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