13 Hurt -- 3 Airlifted -- In Weekend Boat Crash Near Blythe Resort

UPDATED Sunday, March 13, 12 noon

BLYTHE, CA - A boat crashed into rocks along the Colorado River 30 miles north of Blythe, and 13 people were injured, firefighters said today.

The crash was reported at 5:11 p.m. on Saturday at the Hidden Valley Resort, said Riverside County Fire spokeswoman Jennifer Fuhrman.

Three people suffered critical injuries and were airlifted to a hospital, while six patients with moderate injuries were transported via ambulance, she said.

Four other people with minor injuries declined treatment, Fuhrman said.

The crash happened because the boat was going too fast when it tried to make a turn, Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Hinderliter said. Alcohol may have been a factor, he said. An investigation was ongoing.

Deputies asked anyone with information about the incident to call investigators at the Colorado River Station at (760) 921-7900.

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PREVIOUS: Sunday, March 13, 8:46 a.m.

BLYTHE, CA - A boat crash on the Colorado River near Blythe Saturday afternoon injured 13 people, two of them critically, authorities said.

The boat crashed onto some rocks near a resort in the 33000 block of Highway 95 about 5:10 p.m., Jennifer Fuhrman of the Riverside County Fire Department said.

The two most seriously injured victims were airlifted from the scene, authorities said.

Ground ambulances took 11 others to hospitals. Four of them sustained moderate injuries and seven had only minor injuries, Fuhrman said.

Alcohol was believed to have played a role in the crash, according to Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Mike Vasquez.
All of the victims had been aboard the boat, he said.

--City News Service