On Memorial Day, a collision occurred at Bartlett Lake involving a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office patrol boat and a jet ski, as confirmed by the sheriff's office. The incident took place around 3:15 p.m. when a deputy, in the midst of executing a stop for a wake zone violation, approached the jet ski. According to the details shared by FOX 10 Phoenix, "While attempting to conduct a stop for a wake zone violation, our deputy approached the jet ski. As the patrol boat neared, the operator of the jet ski made a sudden right turn into the path of the patrol vessel." The sheriff's office explained that despite the deputy's attempts to avoid a collision, the impact was inevitable.
An 18-year-old man was operating the jet ski at the time of the accident, and he sustained non-life-threatening injuries; as a result, he received medical attention afterwards. The deputy, a 32-year veteran with considerable experience on Lake Patrol, remained unharmed, and impairment does not seem to be a factor in the mishap, as reported by 12 News.
As the investigation continues, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has stated that a Level II boat incident reconstruction team is tasked with carrying out a comprehensive review of the events leading up to the collision. In their commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability throughout the investigative process, the sheriff's office conveyed well-wishes to the young man and his family during his recovery.
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