Newark Man Killed In SoCal Boating Crash
CASTAIC, Calif. (CBS/AP) - A Newark man died Saturday in a boating accident on Pyramid Lake, north of Castaic in southern California, according to the Los Angeles County coroner.
The man was identified as 36-year-old Edgardo Gabriel Almaraz, who was killed when a twenty-foot ski boat collided with a WaveRunner personal watercraft piloted by Almaraz around 1:40 p.m., according to Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.
Almaraz was face down and motionless in the water after the collision, according to sheriffs, and the ski boat's pilot jumped into the water to hold Almaraz head above water until U.S. Coast Guard responders arrived.
The collision was witnessed by a Coast Guard Auxiliary boat, which arrived quickly and transported Almaraz to shore. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Parks Bureau administered CPR until paramedics arrived, who pronounced Almaraz dead on the scene at 2:22 p.m.
A sheriff's department spokesman said that alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the collision.
"He turned right in front of the boat, he probably wasn't paying attention," said Deputy Johnie Jones. "It was just a tragic accident," he said.
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