Child run over by boat

A child is recovering from injuries received after being run over by a boat in the north Okanagan earlier this month.

On July 17, a six-year-old girl was struck by an inflatable boat in a swimming area off the shore of Kin beach in Vernon.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the incident took place just after 5 p.m.

“A 54-year-old woman from Vernon was operating a motorized inflatable boat off of the shore of Kin Beach in a swimming area. She struck a six year old child, the child received minor injuries, cuts on her right leg and right hand, from the propeller,” says Molendyk.

He says the woman was operating her boat in no more than 36” inches of water and was approx 20 feet from shore at the time of the accident.

“After the woman struck the child, she continued to drive away from the area, after being told that the child was cut from her boat propeller. What concerns the police is the woman did not return to check the condition of the child.”

Molendyk says police spoke with the woman who admitted fault, she stated that she was unfamiliar with the vessel and was not used to the controls.

Police are looking at possible charges against the driver of the boat which may include dangerous operation of a vessel.