'Safety is no accident': Speed, alcohol factors in Lake Michigan boat collision near Racine

 

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Fourteen people including children were involved in a crash between two boats Sunday on Lake Michigan near Reef Point Marina in Racine.

The Racine County Sheriff's Office tells us that speed and alcohol were a factor as one boat carrying three people including kids crashed into a second boat with eleven people on board including kids.

"It seems readily apparent that laws were broken, but that's the next step." said Racine County Sherriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Luell. "The first step is saving people's lives."

Lt. Luell says there are multiple injuries. He says one child was med-flighted to an area hospital with a life-threatening head injury. The rest of the victims are believed to have non-life-threatening injuries.

Several people were pulled from the water as rescue teams launched 'heat-seeking' drones.

On Monday, CBS 58 spoke with Blythe Hanley who witnessed the incident while fishing with her boyfriend.

“They were going one way and then all of a sudden, one of them, the front one, turned around," Hanley recalled. “We’re like, oh my gosh, they look like they’re going to hit each other."

Moments later, Hanley said the couple heard what she described as a loud "boom."

"People just screamed immediately," Hanley said. 

Hanley added that she saw a third boat pull onto scene, which officials confirmed, calling it a good Samaritan.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this unfortunate incident, and we hope they all have a speedy recovery." said Racine County Sheriff Chistopher Schmaling in a press release. "I commend the emergency personnel that immediately responded to this critical situation and provided medical care.”