2 teens on jet ski died after crashing into boat at 'high rate of speed' on Illinois lake

Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Two teenage girls riding a jet ski on an Illinois lake died after crashing into a boat on Tuesday.

The victims were identified as a 13-year-old girl, Elle Kim of Long Grove, Illinois, and a 16-year-old girl, Sarina Vootkur of Lake Forest, California, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office and CBS News.

An investigation from the sheriff's office and the Illinois Conservation Police is underway.

Authorities said the oldest girl was driving the Yamaha jet ski on Lake Marie in Antioch while the 13-year-old was the passenger. The duo was traveling north near the channel to Grass Lake.

Simultaneously, a 55-year-old man driving a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser was "traveling westbound in the same area," according to the sheriff's office.

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The victims were knocked unconscious following the collision, authorities say

Eyewitnesses told law enforcement that the jet ski was operating at a "high rate of speed" toward the boat. The man driving the boat could not avoid the crash, leading the boat and jet ski to collide.

"Both occupants of the jet ski, who were wearing life vests, were knocked unconscious and thrown into the water," the Lake County Sheriff's Office said. "There were a total of four occupants on the Sea Ray, and they immediately pulled the girls from the water, called 911, and rendered aid."

The operator of the Sea Ray and an operator from another boat helped each girl to the shore. Deputies responded to the scene just after 5:00 p.m. According to WAFB, the girls suffered from blunt force injuries.

The victims were transported to a local hospital, where they succumbed to their wounds. No one else was injured in the collision. The Lake County Sheriff's Office sent condolences to their families.

"They were young, very young, very inexperienced," boater Randy Chimola told CBS News, "It's not like a road where you put brakes on. I mean, they're just going, and you have no control. It's scary, really it is."

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 teens dead following jet ski, boat crash on Illinois lake