‘There’s a boat hurtling toward us’: Multiple injured on Lake LBJ after empty boat rams into sandbar
KINGSLAND, Texas (KXAN) – Multiple people were injured Saturday afternoon at Lake Lyndon B. Johnson after the operator fell off a boat, which maintained power and crashed into a crowded sandbar, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Officials said three people were transported to hospitals and one person was arrested. A TPWD spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing.
According to TPWD, James Dossat, of Kingsland, was arrested for reckless operation and excessive speed of a water vessel. KXAN has reached out to authorities in Llano County for more details and will provide updates when a response is received.
“It was one of the most terrifying experiences I’ve ever had,” said James Schleicher, who was on a boat with friends and family at the time of the incident.
Schleicher said he and others were on a boat near a sandbar in Lake LBJ when they heard people yelling.
“We look up, and there’s a boat hurtling towards us – heading towards the back of our boat,” he said.
It missed Schleicher’s boat but struck another one, “dead on the stern and [went] up the back of it. And then it was on the top of the boat with all of these people under it,” he said
After a few more erratic jerks, Schleicher said someone was able to get on board the unmanned boat and kill the engine.
“We just were just so thankful that people weren’t more seriously injured, and that we didn’t see anything worse happen,” he added.
Safety on the lake
“I love this lake. I love everything about it. But definitely would love to see more people pay a lot more attention to safety,” said Ronnie Madrid, who docks his boat in Lake LBJ.
Madrid said he intentionally avoids boating on busy holidays — like Memorial Day or Labor Day — because Lake LBJ is busy with people who may not be enjoying the waters safely.
“I’m usually out on the boat with my family,” he said. “I have a 10-year-old and a seven-year-old. My worries always are 100% on boat safety.”
TPWD has a list of precautions people should keep in mind when out on a boat. Among them are wearing life jackets, using a boat’s ignition safety switch, operating at a safe speed and avoiding alcohol.
“I mean, it’s just one wrong mistake and you’re killing somebody and that’s horrible,” Madrid said.
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