County officials have confirmed that alcohol and overcrowded
conditions were not factors in the Coyote Reservoir jet ski
collision that took the life of a 28-year-old San Jose woman on May
31.
County officials have confirmed that alcohol and overcrowded conditions were not factors in the Coyote Reservoir jet ski collision that took the life of a 28-year-old San Jose woman on May 31.
However, speed could be a cause. Officials estimate the driver of the jet ski that rode into Rachael Truong and her boyfriend’s watercraft that Sunday was going 30 to 35 mph. The accident happened in a 5 mph zone close to Sandy Beach.
“The vessel climbed on top of the victims’ watercraft, killing one of them as it went up over them broadside,” county parks spokeswoman Tamara Clark-Shear said.
Truong was riding in front of the vessel’s driver, a passenger position not recommended by watercraft safety advocates.
“A lot of accidents happen that way,” said Amy Rigby, a boating accident analyst for the California Department of Boating and Waterways. “People often put children in front of them, but then that gives children access to the vessel’s controls and the adult driver loses control.”
Rigby said there are no laws prohibiting passengers to ride in front of watercraft drivers, but positioning the passenge behind the vessel operator is always preferred.
“It just makes it that much more difficult to operate a vessel. Imagine driving your car, you’re not going to put a passenger between you and the wheel,” Rigby said.
The coroner’s office said multiple traumatic injuries were the cause of Truong’s death.
The accident investigation has not been completed.
Officials have released no other details regarding the drivers of the jet skis, but it has been confirmed that the driver who hit the victims is an adult and that he was not under the influence of alcohol.
Clark-Shear said the he driver remained at the scene and cooperated when he was asked to.
Officials are not naming the driver, but he was given a boating ticket and is still under investigation. No criminal charges have been filed against him.
The accident is the first fatality in at least eight years at Coyote, Clark-Shear said. One other fatal accident occurred earlier this year at Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos.
In the wake of Coyote Reservoir’s most recent watercraft accident, word of the tragedy is topic for discussion at the lake.
“Other boaters were talking about it with me,” said Gilroyan Matt Newton. “People are definitely aware this tragedy happened, and maybe that’s a good thing. Hopefully this will make people think about how vulnerable they are out there.”
Newton is new to personal watercrafting, although he has been around boats since he was 8 years old. On the day after the accident, he took his girlfriend and two daughters – and his newly purchased Seados – for an afternoon of jet skiing.
“I like to go out at the less crowded times. The more space I have, the more comfortable I am,” Newton said.
On that Sunday, 20 vessels were in the 635-acre lake. Capacity is 70 vessels of any type.
As for Newton, he has no plans to end his new hobby.
“I still feel safe out there. Rangers always seem to be checking up on people. You feel their presence.”
Also that Sunday, park rangers were performing boat and on-shore patrols, officials said.
“We’re not looking at any rule changes or increase in patrol, but we are trying to reinforce our education efforts as we do every boating season,” Clark-Shear said. “Our rangers are talking with people about safety as they come into the park, and we encourage them to take boater safety classes, too.”
In 1997, after California water accidents spiked to 391, so-called horseplay laws were put into effect. The laws prohibited dangerous behaviors such as riding too close to another vessel and “spraying down” other motorists – when one vessel operator suddenly turns their watercraft at a high speed, causing a spray of water to shoot outward.
In 2002, 253 accidents occurred, a significant drop from 1997. However, the amount of fatal watercraft accidents remains roughlythe same. In 1997, eight people died in watercraft accidents. Last year, seven people lost their lives.
