A tragic event unfolded on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Lake Marie in Antioch, Illinois. A jet ski, carrying two teenage girls, smashed into a boat, resulting in the fatalities of both girls. The accident happened around 5:15 p.m., as reported by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The girls, identified as Sarina Vootkur, 16, of Lake Forest, California and Elle Kim, 13, of Long Grove, Illinois, were riding a Yamaha WaveRunner when the accident occurred.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the girls were heading north near the Grass Lake channel, just above the Elime Road Peninsula, when their jet ski hit a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser operated by a 55-year-old man from Antioch, Illinois. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the jet ski approach the westbound boat at high speed, making collision inevitable.
Despite wearing life jackets, the force of the impact rendered the girls unconscious and threw them into the water. The four passengers aboard the Sea Ray promptly pulled the girls from the water, initiated first aid, and dialed 911. Unfortunately, upon arrival at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, both girls were pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the sequence of events and disclosed the victims’ identities. “It appears they went straight into the cabin cruiser. Just seems to be an accident,” Covelli informed the press. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Illinois Conservation Police are currently investigating the crash.
Autopsies conducted on June 20 by the Lake County Coroner’s Office revealed that both girls died from blunt force trauma resulting from the crash. Witnesses reported that the jet ski was completely destroyed in the accident.
Randy Chmiola, a regular boater on the lake, commented on the accident, “They were young, very young, very inexperienced. It’s scary because you can’t stop on water like you can on a road. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office extended its deepest sympathies to the families and all those touched by this disaster. In a statement, they underscored the need for safety and vigilance on the water to avoid similar future tragedies. “Our hearts go out to the families of Sarina and Elle. This is a loss for the community,” the statement read.
