2 Hurt In July 4 Boating Incidents On Oakland County Lakes: Sheriff

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI — Two people were injured Thursday in two boating incidents on separate Commerce Township lakes, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The first incident happened on Union Lake at roughly 5:43 p.m. when a 32-year-old Waterford Township man was operating a personal watercraft before he fell off of it, according to the sheriff's office.

The watercraft continued moving until it struck a 24-foot pontoon boat, injuring a 29-year-old Waterford Township woman, who was lying on her back at the rear of the boat with her feet at the point of impact, according to the sheriff's office.

The woman suffered minor injuries in the crash and refused treatment at the scene, according to the sheriff's office.

Police do not believe alcohol played a role in the crash.

The second incident happened on North Commerce Lake at 5:57 p.m. when people on a pontoon boat found an unresponsive man floating in the water, according to the sheriff's office.

Investigators determined that the 20-year-old Commerce man dove off the side of a pontoon boat into about 4 feet of water, striking his head on the bottom of the lake.

The witnesses on the pontoon boat pulled the man from the water and officials took him to a nearby hospital where he was being treated for serious injuries, according to the sheriff's office.

Police believe alcohol was a factor in the incident. They also said the man was not wearing a life jacket at the time.