An incident involving a jet ski and a boat on Lake Marie in Antioch, Illinois led to the tragic loss of two teenage girls on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened around 5:15 p.m.
The victims were identified as Sarina Vootkur, a 16-year-old from Lake Forest, California, who was operating the Yamaha WaveRunner, and her passenger, Elle Kim, a 13-year-old from Long Grove, Illinois.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the girls were heading north near the Grass Lake channel, beyond the Elime Road Peninsula, when their jet ski collided with a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser. The boat was being steered by a 55-year-old male from Antioch, Illinois. Bystanders witnessed the jet ski moving at high speed towards the westward-bound boat, which was unable to evade the jet ski.
Despite wearing life jackets, the force of the crash rendered the girls unconscious and hurled them into the water. The quartet aboard the Sea Ray quickly rescued the girls, administered first aid, and dialed 911. However, upon arrival at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, both teenagers were pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office verified the details of the incident and confirmed the identities of the victims. “It appears they went straight into the cabin cruiser. Just seems to be an accident,” Covelli informed reporters. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Illinois Conservation Police are currently investigating the crash.
Autopsies undertaken on June 20 by the Lake County Coroner’s Office revealed that both girls died from blunt force injuries incurred during the collision. Witnesses confirmed that the jet ski was obliterated in the accident.
“They were young, very young, very inexperienced,” said Randy Chmiola, a regular boater in the area. “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 expressed its deepest sympathies to the families affected by this incident. In a public statement, the sheriff’s office stressed the importance of water safety and the necessity for constant attentiveness to prevent such future accidents. “Our hearts go out to the families of Sarina and Elle. This is a loss for the community,” the statement concluded.
