Deputies investigate unoccupied boat spinning out of control; 2 people lucky to make it to shore

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Spinning out of control, an unoccupied boat on a Michigan lake made local officials think there would be another water-related tragedy.

Oakland County deputies were called to the Elizabeth Lake scene around 8:30 Thursday night. The sheriff says the department has already been called out for 11 drownings this year.

“When my phone went off with the emergency message on a report of an unoccupied boat running in circles in middle of lake at full throttle and clothing floating in the water, I thought this sure sounds like we’re going to have another tragic death,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “Our team activated and thankfully by sheer luck, that was not the outcome.”

After search and rescue teams spent time in the water looking for any victims, the 17-foot boat ran out of gas, making it possible for responders to get close to and onto the boat.

Deputies discovered the safety lanyard was attached to the key. A key that was still in the ignition.

Using the registration information on the boat, deputies found the owner — a 35-year-old Waterford Township man — and were told that he and his passenger — a 24-year-old woman from Wixom “were thrown from the boat when they hit a wake.”

The owner told deputies he and the woman were able to swim to shore — neither of them were wearing life jackets.

“The initial investigation revealed that alcohol was involved but the primary factor was the owner’s inexperience operating a boat,” the sheriff said.

“In this instance, we had multiple failures that by the grace of God did not end up with someone seriously hurt or killed,” Bouchard said. “Not wearing personal flotation devices, consuming alcohol and not utilizing a safety lanyard with an auto shut-off capability was a recipe for a tragedy. I implore people to use common sense and water safety sense. I am again, very proud of our team. They were able to safely recover the boat and determine where the occupants of the boat were in a relatively short period of time, thus bringing a large rescue effort safely to a
close.”

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