A sunny Tuesday afternoon on Lake Marie in Antioch, Illinois turned into a tragedy on June 18, 2024, as a jet ski crash resulted in the death of two teenage girls. The incident, which happened around 5:15 p.m., was reported by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, 16-year-old Sarina Vootkur of Lake Forest, California was operating a Yamaha WaveRunner, with 13-year-old Elle Kim from Long Grove, Illinois as her passenger.

The accident occurred when the jet ski, which was heading north near the Grass Lake channel above the Elime Road Peninsula, collided with a westbound Sea Ray Cabin Cruiser. The boat was under the control of a 55-year-old man from Antioch, Illinois. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the jet ski, moving at high speed, was unable to avoid the collision with the boat.

The girls were both wearing life jackets but the impact of the collision knocked the girls unconscious and they were thrown into the water. The four individuals aboard the Sea Ray promptly rescued the girls, administered first aid, and dialed 911. Unfortunately, upon their arrival at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, both girls were declared dead.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli verified the details of the crash and confirmed the identities of the victims. “It appears they went straight into the cabin cruiser. Just seems to be an accident,” Covelli told the press. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and the Illinois Conservation Police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the crash.

Post-mortem examinations conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office on June 20 revealed that the girls died from blunt force injuries sustained during the collision. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the jet ski was destroyed in the accident.

Area boater Randy Chmiola commented on the accident, stating, “They were young, very young, very inexperienced. 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.”

In a statement, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and all those impacted by the tragic incident. The statement underscored the importance of safety and vigilance on the water to prevent future accidents. “Our hearts go out to the families of Sarina and Elle. This is a loss for the community,” it said.