Alcohol Blamed For Boat Crash That Injured 13, Including 2 Critically

BLYTHE (CBSLA.com) —  Officials said alcohol played a contributing role in a  boat crash on the Colorado River near Blythe Saturday afternoon that left 13 people injured, including two of them critically.

The boat crashed onto some rocks near a resort in the 33000 block of Highway 95 about 5:10 p.m., Jennifer Fuhrman of the Riverside County Fire Department said.

The two most seriously injured victims were airlifted from the scene, authorities said.

Ground ambulances took 11 others to hospitals. Four of them sustained moderate injuries and seven had only minor injuries, Fuhrman said.

Alcohol was believed to have played a role in the crash, according to Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Mike Vasquez.

All of the victims were aboard the boat, he said.