The Kelowna RCMP police boat is pictured in this contributed photo.
Image Credit: Contributed/Tami Quan
August 19, 2016 - 6:30 PM
KELOWNA - RCMP say a series of incidents on Okanagan Lake over last weekend show some boaters aren’t getting the message about drinking while at the helm.
Kelowna RCMP Const. Jesse O’Donaghey in a press release says a 38-foot Forumla 400ss hit a dock and another boat at the Kelowna City marina on Saturday, Aug. 13.
O’Donaghey says officers arrived on scene and directed the boat operator back to dock where they say further investigation suggested he may have been impaired.
Charges were issued under the Canada Shipping Act to both boat owner and operator.
On Sunday, Aug. 14, the marine unit responded to incident at the Kelowna Marina dock where a swimmer was seriously injured by a boat propeller.
O’Donaghey says investigation revealed the swimmer was at the back of the boat when the inexperienced operator put the engine into reverse.
The swimmer was taken to hospital in serious condition.
Later that day, the marine unit responded to reports of a boat almost hitting a child near the Sutherland Park boat launch.
Police caught up to the operator and took him into custody after determining he was drunk and unable to safely operate the boat.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2016