One of two boats involved in a crash on Shuswap Lake over the long weekend sank after impact, but all parties involved on both boats escaped without major injury.
Sicamous RCMP and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue members responded to a report of the collision between powerboats near Marble Point around 4:30 pm Saturday.
According to police, a 23-foot Supreme wake boat with six people on board and another being towed on a wake surf board behind the boat took the brunt of the impact.
A statement from Sgt. Murray McNeil said the Supreme was T-boned by a 26-foot Mastercraft wake boat that also had six people on board and was towing another on a kneeboard, p
He explained that the boats were travelling around 15 km/h when the Mastercraft hit the port side of the Supreme at a 90-degree angle.
The collision caused the Mastercraft to mount the Supreme, McNeil noted, which pushed the Supreme's bow underwater and resulted in it sinking.
“All persons on the sunken boat boarded the Mastercraft, with one person involved reporting a minor injury,” McNeil explained.
Both vessel operators told police they did not see the other boat approaching prior to the collision.
“Weather was clear at the time with warm summer temperatures,” noted McNeil. “Police have determined alcohol was not a factor with no criminal charges pending.”
Sicamous RCMP has notified Transport Canada of the collision, and the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board is responsible for any further investigation.
