Cedar Falls Teenager Hurt In Accident On Clear Lake

A 17-year-old female from Cedar Falls was injured when two personal watercraft collided on Clear Lake in northern Iowa on Friday (July 6, 2018).

Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials said the accident happened around 8:15 PM when a personal watercraft, operated by a 15-year-old male from Glidden with a 16-year-old male passenger from Carroll on board, struck the back of another personal watercraft that had three 17-year-old females from Cedar Falls on board. According to the DNR, one of the females that was struck directly by the personal watercraft fell into the water and was brought ashore by Clear Lake Fire and Rescue personnel.

A DNR press release said the rescued teenager suffered a leg injury in the mishap and was initially taken to a Mason City hospital for treatment. She was later transferred to a hospital in Rochester, Minn., where her condition is unknown.

The 15-year-old operating the personal watercraft that caused the crash was charged with reckless use of a watercraft and operation of a watercraft by an underage person without boating education, DNR officials said.

Cerro Gordo County sheriff's deputies and the Iowa State Patrol also assisted with this incident.