One person died, and five others were hospitalized on Sunday afternoon after a personal watercraft collided with a boat on Lake Travis near Point Venture in Austin.
Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) was called just before 3 p.m. on August 13 to Captain Pete’s Boathouse at 18200 Lakepoint Cove with reports of multiple injuries following a boat accident.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department said 14 people were on a pontoon boat, and one person was on a jet ski when the incident occurred, according to KXAN.
Benton Travis was playing music at Captain Pete’s Boathouse when ATCEMS arrived and began assessing those injured.
“A jet ski had struck the boat and hit the passenger, from what we were told. I didn’t see that happen but that’s what was shared with us,” said Travis, per KXAN.
Resuscitative efforts began on one person following the incident, but ATCEMS reported that the person died at the scene from his injuries.
Travis said those in attendance watched as ATCEMS tended to the injured.
“STAR Flight arrived and they continued with the CPR on and off. We saw him hook up an IV,” said Travis, per KXAN.
“Eventually they stopped CPR and brought out a blanket. At that point, we knew that he had passed.”
One “adult trauma alert patient” was taken via boat to an ambulance waiting on shore and then transferred to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center with injuries that are potentially serious, according to ATCEMS.
Four others were transferred to local hospitals with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening.
One person was taken by ATCEMS to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, while two others were taken to the same location by the North Lake Travis Fire Department.
Another person was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center by the Travis County STAR Flight, according to ATCEMS.
Travis offered his condolences.
“I felt really bad for both parties involved. I’m sure the poor person driving the jet ski, you know, he didn’t have those intentions, but my heart goes out to them,” he said, as reported by KXAN.
“And you know, the people who lost a loved one today. It’s really sad.”