Teen dies, 1 loses leg in boat accident

SPRING LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich (WOOD) - One person died and two others were injured after a power boat collided with a Sea-Doo in Stahl's Bayou on Saturday evening.

The 15-year-old driver of a 2007 GTX Sea-Doo personal watercraft, Robert Jack Jerovsek, of Spring Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said.

His two female passengers were taken to local hospitals. One of the girls, a 16-year-old from the Chicago area, lost her leg in the crash. She is in critical condition.

The other passenger, 23-year-old Kaitlin Van Dam of Grand Rapids, was reportedly doing well and only suffered minor bumps and bruises.

All of the people on the Sea-Doo were wearing life jackets.

"It's just a very tough situation," said Lt. Steve Kempker of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. "We have a death here of a very young person."

None of the five teenagers, ages 13 to 17, on a 2005 MasterCraft Ski Boat were injured. The 15-year-old driver of the boat had his Michigan boating safety certification, according to investigators.

Rescuers were called to the scene at around 7:10 p.m. Saturday after the collision was reported. The driver of the power boat was making a large turn when he hit the Sea-Doo from the rear, investigators said.

Jerovsek's mother was on scene after the crash. His father had to drive in from out of town and blew out a tire on his way.

A Michigan State Police trooper picked him up and drove him the rest of the way.

The people on the boat and on the Sea-Doo knew each other, investigators said.

Karen Daugherty and her sons heard the accident on their police scanner and came to see what was going on. When they arrived, they realized they knew some of the people involved. 

"I feel for 'em. I literally feel for 'em," Daugherty said. "My heart goes out to them."

The accident reports will be forwarded to the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether charges will be filed. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor, investigators said.

24 Hour News 8 will continue to follow the story and provide updates as they become available.