Brandon Twp.-A 39-year-old Sterling Heights man was questioned by Oakland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit deputies following an injury accident on Bald Eagle Lake at about 7 p.m., June 26.
Witnesses to the accident said a 1991 Master Craft Ski boat was towing a person on a tube near the island on the north side of the lake when the tube and victim struck a stationary boat dock. The owner and operator of the boat reported he swerved to miss a fishing boat when the incident occurred. ‘The victim impacted the fixed object,? said Sgt. Dan Toth, OCS Marine Division. ‘For a boat that size to be up on a plane (in the air) it means they must have been travelling at 25 to 30 mph. The driver says he swerved to miss a fishing boat, however, the law does not take that into account. The driver has a duty to stay clear and stay in control.?
The 34-year-old Troy resident who was propelled into the dock while on the tube received severe lacerations to the buttocks, left wrist and a broken right foot. He was treated at the scene by the Brandon Fire Department and transported to Genesys Medical Center and placed in ICU. He was released on Sunday, said Toth.
‘We found evidence that both the victim and the tube struck the dock. He was wearing a personal floatation device and there was a spotter in the boat,? he said. ‘The man was picked up and taken to shore, where he was treated.?
Toth said Bald Eagle Lake is one of 130 lakes in Oakland County that are patrolled by the OCSO Marine Division. ‘The lake is on our revolving patrols and we’ll continue to enforce the laws on the water,? Toth said, who added that alcohol was a factor in this case and charges will be considered.
The two men were residents of a home on the south shore where they had spent the weekends for the last three years, said a neighbor.
‘The two men are best friends,? said the neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. ‘It’s too bad, these guys are out on the lake every weekend in the summer. I’ve lived on Bald Eagle Lake for the past 25 years and we never seem to have any accidents or problems out here. This lake is very quiet, except we do get a lot of boat traffic on the weekends in the summer.?
The neighbor said the man was in a lot of pain when they brought him back to shore.