Boy, 14, Injured In Jet Ski Crash

DUNEDIN, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Thursday afternoon collision involving two jet skis that resulted in a 14-year-old boy being airlifted to a local hospital.

According to the agency, deputies were called out to the north side of Caladesi Island State Park around 2:40 p.m. March 30. Once there, they learned that a family from Lafayette, Colorado, had been out on jet skis when the collision occurred.

Investigators say Alan Gil, 49, was driving a jet ski with his son Brendan, 14, on the back. Gil’s other son, Ethan, 16, was operating a second ski.

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“Investigators say that Alan Gil made several rapid turns while operating his watercraft and turned into the path of Ethan Gil’s watercraft, causing the collision,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. All three were thrown from their jet skis after the crash.

Alan and Ethan were not injured in the wreck, but deputies say Brendan suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries. He was airlifted to Bayfront Health Hospital. All three were wearing life jackets, the agency noted.

Impairment is not believed to be a factor, but investigators “do suspect the careless operation of the watercraft crash,” the email noted.

No further information is available at this time.

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