Coroner IDs Girls Killed In Jet Ski Crash On Lake Marie

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The two girls killed after a jet ski collided with a boat Tuesday evening on Lake Marie have been identified.

The Lake County Coroner's Office on Thursday identified the driver of the jet ski as Sarina Vootkur, 16, of Lake Forest, California. A passenger on the jet ski, Elle Kim, 13, of Long Grove, Illinois, was also killed in the collision.

Preliminary results from autopsies show both girls died from blunt force injuries.

The crash happened at about 5:15 p.m. when the Yamaha jet ski, driven by Vootkur, was headed north on Lake Marie in Antioch, Illinois, near a channel to Grass Lake, according to authorities.

Witnesses told police the jet ski was traveling at a high rate of speed directly toward a Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser, which was headed west in the same area, according to a news release from the coroner's office. The driver of the boat, a 55-year-old Illinois man, was not able to avoid the crash.

Both girls were wearing life jackets but were knocked unconscious and thrown into the water upon impact, authorities said. There were four people on the boat who immediately pulled the girls from the water, called 911 and provided aid, according to a news release.

One of the girls was taken to the shore by the operator of the Sea Ray and the other girl was transported by the operator of another passing boat, authorities said.

Both girls were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and both were pronounced deceased after arriving.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Illinois Conservation Police.