Jet Ski Accident

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Scott J. Croteau
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Lake accident injures boy, 11
Sea-Doo driver faces charges

SHREWSBURY- A Worcester man aboard a watercraft slammed into a Lake Quinsigamond dock Sunday night, police said, pinning an 11-year-old boy's head between the dock and the watercraft. The boy, who is from Worcester, was in serious condition last night at UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus in Worcester. The Worcester man was charged in court yesterday on several violations.

Stanley Swiatlowski, 38, of 11 Blanche St., Worcester, allegedly hit a 27-year-old Worcester father and his 2-year-old daughter as well. They were released from the hospital Sunday night, hospital officials said yesterday. Police declined to identify the victims.

According to police and witnesses, Mr. Swiatlowski was performing circles and figure eights on his red Sea-Doo watercraft near the father and daughter and the boy, who were swimming near a dock off South Quinsigamond Avenue. Witnesses told police Mr. Swiatlowski lost control of the watercraft and slid over the man and two children, according to police reports. The impact threw the three swimmers into the dock, police reports said.

The boy was pinned between the dock and the Sea-Doo and suffered substantial injuries, according to the police reports. Rescue officials on the scene said the boy bled from the head and both ears. All three swimmers were taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus.

Mr. Swiatlowski told police he pulled up to the dock to drop off a friend's child, and a wave pushed him over to the dock faster than he expected, police reports said. Mr. Swiatlowski said he was driving the watercraft at 5 miles per hour at the time of the accident.

But witnesses told police Mr. Swiatlowski had tried to splash the three victims in the water and continued to loop around in his Sea-Doo until he lost control. Mr. Swiatlowski allegedly responded, Yeah, I know,when an officer told him about the dangers of driving a watercraft carelessly, police reports stated.Police said the impact caused damage to the dock. Some of the dock ended up under water, police reports said.

During the investigation, police said, they did not find a registration for Mr. Swiatlowskiâ?Ts Sea-Doo and towed it to the Police Department boathouse. State environmental police also were brought in and Mr. Swiatlowski is required to fill out a boat accident form with that agency, police reports said.

Mr. Swiatlowski was arraigned in Westboro District Court yesterday on charges of driving a motorboat violation, unsafe driving of a motorboat, unregistered recreational vehicle, two counts of a jet ski violation and three counts of driving a jet ski within 150 feet of a swimmer.

He was released after posting $1,000 cash bail and will return to court Sept. 1.

Police Chief A. Wayne Sampson said police take careless driving of any watercraft on the lake seriously. No matter what we seem to do out there, some people do not seem to listen, said the chief, a member of the Lake Quinsigamond Commission.