Sad news...keep your head on a swivel

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California man on jet ski dies in crash with boat on Colorado River near Yuma

Yuma County sheriff's officials said it's unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

www.azcentral.com

California man on jet ski dies in crash with boat on Colorado River near Yuma
Mike Cruz, Arizona RepublicPublished 11:16 a.m. MT April 27, 2020


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Yuma County (Photo: The Republic)
A California man on a jet ski died following a collision with a boat Saturday afternoon on the Colorado River, north of Martinez Lake, according to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.
The jet ski operator was identified as Tristen Hays, 20, of Lakeside, California, Yuma County sheriff's officials said in a news release posted on Facebook.
An investigation revealed the boat and jet ski were traveling south on the river, parallel to each other, shortly after 3:30 p.m., the sheriff's Facebook post stated.
For unknown reasons, the jet ski turned into the path of the boat and collided with it. Hays suffered fatal injuries, officials said. Next of kin was notified.
The case is still under investigation. It's unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash, officials said in the release.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous. Anonymous tips also can be submitted on the department's website at www.yumacountysheriff.org.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Sad news. RIP

 

[Bullet28]

Sorry to hear this. RIP

 

[scouter]

Yes, it was a very sad weekend here on the lower river....

 

[riverroyal]

RIP. People love the lower river. Without exaggeration Ive put in 1000s of miles on jet skies there. Boat and PWC's dont mix. There is simply not enough room for both anymore on the narrow river.
One thing most riders forget is they are not alone and boats go straight. Looking over your shoulder saves lives

tragic for sure

 

[Advantage 1]

Damn... RIP

 

[wzuber]

Sad deal for all parties involved for sure...RIP young man. I feel for the boat operator too as he was likely a victim of circumstance too.
I've learned to stay away from them as far as possible just for this reason...sudden changes in direction from them and in my experience age doesn't much seem to matter. Loud boats can help save lives too at times.

 

[77charger]

I hate following or being behind pwcs as alot do not look back and just turn or cross over.Makes me nervous and being behind it would put me at fault unfortunately.

As a jet skier when its busy or any boat within close sight i do not turn rapidly always got to be turning your head before any move you make.

 

[RiverDave]

I am amazed about several things..

1. that it doesn’t happen more often
2. That when it does happen “usually” the boat operator is at fault!

I can think of countless times where one of them swerved in front of me and we dodged them.. I know friends that have literally been t boned by them..

 

[Motor Boater]

When I was young I went to lake Powell about every other weekend with a good friend. His dad made us take a boaters safety coarse that showed some pretty gnarly videos of people on jet skis making turns into boats without looking over their shoulder. I still remember that video and it was probably 30 years ago. Yesterday I was at the lake and pointed out to my 10 year old (who I’m teaching to drive the boat) a jet ski I could see was about to turn right in front of us and sure enough, no look turn came right across our bow. There are plenty of good learning examples out there.

 

[JD D05]

When I was young I went to lake Powell about every other weekend with a good friend. His dad made us take a boaters safety coarse that showed some pretty gnarly videos of people on jet skis making turns into boats without looking over their shoulder. I still remember that video and it was probably 30 years ago. Yesterday I was at the lake and pointed out to my 10 year old (who I’m teaching to drive the boat) a jet ski I could see was about to turn right in front of us and sure enough, no look turn came right across our bow. There are plenty of good learning examples out there.

Powell can be really bad.

 

[DWC]

I hate following or being behind pwcs as alot do not look back and just turn or cross over.Makes me nervous and being behind it would put me at fault unfortunately.

As a jet skier when its busy or any boat within close sight i do not turn rapidly always got to be turning your head before any move you make.

We taught all 3 kids to assume that the sea doo in front of you is going to try to hit the boat. A sea doo driving by itself is a little scary. Two or more together can be terrifying.

 

[Havazoo]

Couldn't give me one....

 

[monkeyswrench]

I have skis, and I have boats. I like them both.
In general, I've tried to make sure my kids understand how quickly things can turn from fun to hospital, or death. I've had boats run along side and cut me off as well. The problem isn't the ski, or the boat. The problem seems to be operators oblivious to the outside world.
This poor kid may still be here if he had some training or was taught by some people who did.

 

[Ragged Edge]

I have skis, and I have boats. I like them both.
In general, I've tried to make sure my kids understand how quickly things can turn from fun to hospital, or death. I've had boats run along side and cut me off as well. The problem isn't the ski, or the boat. The problem seems to be operators oblivious to the outside world.
This poor kid may still be here if he had some training or was taught by some people who did.

This!

 

[RogerThat99]

I hate when you come up on a seadoo weaving back and forth, on a river that is too narrow to give them a wide birth. I'm always concerned they are going to turn in front of me. While they F around and are completely oblivious a boat has come up on them, I usually have to sit back and wait until they see me.

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[rivermobster]

Sucks for Everyone involved. Too young.

 

[ElAzul]

Time for marine style dash cams unfortunately. Could save everything you have ever worked for being taken from you by a POS attorney or worse..... prosecutor

 

[rrrr]

It's been a few years since it happened, but I came within 2-3' feet of killing two dumbass teen girls on a jet ski when they spiked it across my path without looking. You have to anticipate it, because you know they're gonna do it.

It's kinda like being on a motorcycle and seeing a car entering the left turn lane on the opposite side of the road. It's a shame so many bikers assume that car sees them.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

The best PWC operators are boat owners. We have them, and we enjoy them. The part that irks me the most is that you can have the most fun on the things where the boats wont go, yet everybody with one wants to run around in the middle of the lake. Go rip through the shallow coves, close to shore, all the areas that boats wont go, versus the middle of the lake or river where a 130 mph cat is making a run.

 

[TCHB]

Very sad. I have a friend in Havasu that never looks behind him. I will not go out on his boat.

 

[Mototrig]

RIP this boy was gone too young.

I've had boats and ski's. We have ski's at the moment, looking for another boat.
Even though I own and operate ski's I gotta say I'm nervous as hell when other ski'ers are near me (I know, right now we're lake lice and all that). We don't do stupid donuts or anything. We cruise up and down the river and chill on an empty beach near the tressels just like when we had the boat. The wife and kids and I will cover 100-150 miles over 3-4 days just like when we had the boat.

Pop taught me as a child my head rotates 360° about every 30 seconds and before we turn.

When a boat comes up behind us we both pull to the right and yield the right of way if we're on ski's.

Most of all I HATE when other ski's try to Pace and cruise with us. Makes me nervous. I'm happy to meet people, we love the water and the community.

Prayers to this boys family.

 

[Mototrig]

The best PWC operators are boat owners. We have them, and we enjoy them. The part that irks me the most is that you can have the most fun on the things where the boats wont go, yet everybody with one wants to run around in the middle of the lake. Go rip through the shallow coves, close to shore, all the areas that boats wont go, versus the middle of the lake or river where a 130 mph cat is making a run.

There's a small cove down from Topoc bridge before the no wake zone that we'll hang out in. Haven't seen a boat in there yet. I'm sure there has been though.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I always, always, whistle and or scream, and make eye contact,
I had one in lake parries cut in front of me long time ago, he could have put his hand out and bitch slapped my bow as he went by, ya that close.

Rip for this boy.

 

[4Waters]

This is why I go to Castiac instead of Pyramid. No alcohol allowed on Castiac (it's there but people for the most part keep it low key) and the jet ski's are corralled. Pyramid is a smaller lake alcohol is allowed and the jet ski's are allowed to roam the entire lake, I went there once and never again.

 

[PlumLoco]

If I boated where there was narrow or crowded conditions I'd be keeping the air horn busy.

 

[Demoman]

This young mans father and I work on many of the same construction projects in SD. Great people. So sad for their loss

 

[monkeyswrench]

This young mans father and I work on many of the same construction projects in SD. Great people. So sad for their loss

It sucks even as just a name, and maybe a photo. To you, his friends and of course, his family, it's a much deeper cut. This is someone "real".

When it comes down to it, PWC's, jet boats, baller and bass boats, one way or another, we are all river "family".

 

[blue wonder]

Just heard through the grapevine that the driver of the boat is a friend of mine as well as the other passengers, one actually is my ex-brother in law...driver hadn’t drank a drop all day cause of how crazy it was down here last weekend, apparently was as busy as Memorial Day, sad deal for sure but the reports are that the kid didn’t look at all and turned right in front of him...I always wonder why they don’t make classes mandatory for jet ski drivers like they do motorcycles, kinda the same thing in a sense

 

[HotRod82]

Just heard through the grapevine that the driver of the boat is a friend of mine as well as the other passengers, one actually is my ex-brother in law...driver hadn’t drank a drop all day cause of how crazy it was down here last weekend, apparently was as busy as Memorial Day, sad deal for sure but the reports are that the kid didn’t look at all and turned right in front of him...I always wonder why they don’t make classes mandatory for jet ski drivers like they do motorcycles, kinda the same thing in a sense

Small world.....the deceased on the jetski was a friend of a friend. Solid kid, experienced, apparently just a lapse in judgement. Really sad deal.

 

[J DUNN]

To make matters worse, they're faster now. You used to be able to hit the gas and pass them up but now they go so fast lot's of boats don't have the juice to get by them.

 

[riverroyal]

Just heard through the grapevine that the driver of the boat is a friend of mine as well as the other passengers, one actually is my ex-brother in law...driver hadn’t drank a drop all day cause of how crazy it was down here last weekend, apparently was as busy as Memorial Day, sad deal for sure but the reports are that the kid didn’t look at all and turned right in front of him...I always wonder why they don’t make classes mandatory for jet ski drivers like they do motorcycles, kinda the same thing in a sense

I tried and lobbied for this when I was racing. The reason they dont have mandatory training and a licences is the manufactures and dealers pushed back.
The age has raised over the years, but no official must have training.
Its never makes sense too me.
I helped the SD harbor patrol with classes in the 90s. Fiesta Island was a shit show for a decade.