2 girls killed in boat, WaveRunner accident on Chain O'Lakes in Northern Illinois identified
The video above is from a previous report.
ANTIOCH, Ill. (CBS) — Two girls killed in a collision involving a WaveRunner and a boat near Antioch and the Illinois-Wisconsin state line have been identified on Thursday.
The accident happened on the Chain O'Lakes near 40840 N. Douglas Rd.
The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the victims as 16-year-old Sarina Vootkur, from Lake Forest, California, and 13-year-old Elle Kim, from Long Grove, Illinois.
Autopsy results indicated both girls died from blunt force injuries from the crash.
Around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Unit and Patrol Division responded to a personal watercraft versus boat crash on Lake Marie.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the 16-year-old was operating a Yamaha WaveRunner, and the 13-year-old was the passenger. They were traveling north near the channel to Grass Lake, just north of the Elime Road Peninsula.
At the same time, according to officials, a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser, operated by a 55-year-old man from Antioch, was traveling westbound in the same area, approaching the Gass Lake Channel.
Witnesses say the WaveRunner was traveling at a high rate of speed directly toward the cruiser. The Sea Ray operator could not avoid a collision, and the two watercraft struck each other.
Both girls on the WaveRunner, who were wearing life vests, were knocked unconscious and thrown into the water. Officials said that four people were on the Sea Ray, and they immediately pulled the girls from the water, called 911, and rendered aid. Witnesses said the WaveRunner was destroyed.
One of the girls was taken back to the shore by the boat's operator, and the operator of another passing boat took the other girl.
The girls were then taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where they died after arriving. No other injuries were reported from the crash.
"They were young, very young, very inexperienced," said Randy Chmiola, who frequently boats in the area.
He said he'd seen similar incidents before.
"It's scary because you can't stop," Chmiola said. "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."
Investigation into the crash remains ongoing by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit and Illinois Conservation Police.
