1 Dead After Watercraft Accident On Joe Pool Lake

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - One person is dead after a personal watercraft accident on Joe Pool Lake.

According to game wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a group of friends were riding what are often referred to as jet skis. There were four people on two separate jet skis when one 't-boned' the other. "He was impacted from the side by another jet ski," explained Bill Murphy, an Assistant Chief with the Grand Prairie Fire Department. "It was pretty significant trauma involved."

The impact killed one of the drivers – a 42-year-old man.

Everett Burton was having dinner at a restaurant on the water and saw a chaotic scene. "Police and paramedics met the boat when it got to the dock. They pulled the guy off and they were just doing CPR right there on the pier. I've never seen anything like that before."

Apparently, a Dallas fireman was on a boat when the accident happened. He performed CPR on the victim until reaching shore.

Grand Prairie police later identified the victim as Irving resident Wayne Story. All of those involved in the collision were wearing life-jackets.

There is no license or training required to own or operate a jet ski.

Rescuers said they've seen a big increase in the number of "untrained, unqualified people" operating water vehicles on area lakes.

Unlike most North Texas lakes suffering through drought - Joe Pool lake is 99-percent full.

"It takes that one split second that you're not paying attention for this to happen," Murphy said. "There's so much boat traffic, so much jet ski traffic – you've got to be aware of your surroundings while you're out here on the lake."

The crash is still being investigated by the Texas Game Warden. Investigators do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Latest News:

Top Trending:

• PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures