A boat struck a public dock on Clear Lake’s south shore, injuring ten people, four of whom had to be taken to the hospital.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department says they were called shortly after 2:00 AM Sunday morning about a boating accident with multiple injuries at the 15th Avenue South public dock on South Shore Drive.
A 2000 Cobalt boat operated by 28-year-old Andrew Nicholas of Clear Lake struck the public dock, causing damage to a portion of the dock, a boat on a hoist and Nicholas’ boat. Four of the victims were taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, three were treated and released while information on the other person was not available.
Two of the victims, 23-year-old Nicholas and Taylor Olson of Clear Lake, were taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa for treatment by ambulance. 22-year-old Erinn Heine of Clear Lake and 23-year-old Michael Holmes of Clear Lake were both transported to Mercy-North Iowa by private vehicle.
Heine, Holmes and Taylor Olson were all treated and released, while no information was available on Nicholas Olson.
Six others were treated at the scene for their injuries:
23-year-old Paige Bartleson of Clear Lake
22-year-old Andrew Burgmeier of Mason City
20-year-old Tiffini Cieplenski of Forest City
22-year-old Alexandria Hayes of Clear Lake
21-year-old Hunter King of Clear Lake
25-year-old Matthew Palzkill of Mason City
The investigation into the collision continues to be investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City