MOHAVE COUNTY — During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Division of Boating Safety saw a dramatic increase in boating traffic and waterway related calls for service. Deputies, Rescue Divers, and River Medical Paramedics were deployed on 12 Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Vessels up and down the lower Colorado River including Lake Havasu, Topock, and the area of Davis Camp in Bullhead City. Throughout their patrols, Deputies contacted 261 boaters and issued 30 citations. Deputies also investigated 9 boat crashes without injury, 5 boat crashes with injury, assisted 29 boaters, performed 6 water rescues, and responded to 9 medical emergencies.
Deputies responded to two separate boat fires. One fire occurred on Friday (5/23) at the Crazy Horse Marina on Lake Havasu and involved a boat that had just launched. The operator was able to jump from the boat, but suffered burns to his face and arms. The boat was fully engulfed. Deputies arrived and were able to utilize their patrol boats to extinguish the flames.
The second boat fire occurred at the Havasu Riviera Launch Ramp on Lake Havasu on Saturday (5/24). The boat had just launched before it burst into flames. A Fire Boat from the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze. The operator of this watercraft was also able to jump into the water and did not suffer any injuries. The boat sunk to the bottom near the launch ramp. This incident caused the launch ramp to be closed and caused a significant delay to those attempting to launch.
On Saturday (5/24), Deputies responded to Lake Havasu State Park for reports of a vehicle and trailer that went into the water at a launch ramp. Deputies arrived on scene and deployed divers to confirm there was no one inside. There were no injuries during this incident.
Also on Saturday (5/24), multiple agencies responded to a single boat crash on the Colorado River near the Sand Bar. Deputies from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office and River Medical Paramedics responded and assisted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department with treating and transporting injured subjects. This incident is being investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
On Sunday (5/24), Deputies responded to a report of a boat that was sinking in the North Basin of Lake Havasu near Crazy Horse Campground. The boat had struck a large wave, causing water to come into the boat over the bow. The boat sunk to the bottom and all 8 occupants were pulled from the water by other boats. There were no injuries reported during this incident. The operator of the watercraft was issued a citation for having two children under the ages of 13 on the boat during the incident who were not wearing a life jacket.
