A boating collision in Newport Harbor left four people injured and two vessels damaged, Sunday evening.

At approximately 8:20 p.m., sheriff officials were called to respond to the accident that happened near the Newport Harbor entrance.

Officials arrived to the scene and found that two boats had crashed in the harbor and as a result people were thrown overboard and injured. After further investigation, it was determined that both vessels had been traveling at high speeds in the five mile per hour zone prior to the wreck.

Lt. Lloyd Downing of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department told reporters that officials are investigating further details of the events that lead to the Newport Beach boat crash and whether any of the people piloting the boats were intoxicated.

Aboard the two boats, a 22-foot Whaler and a 27-foot Rayson, were seven people. The boats were heading towards each other and when they tried to escape the crash, it was too late. The boats were wrecked and had to be pulled from the harbor with a crane.

The sheriff’s Harbor Patrol responded to the accident and was able to account for all seven passengers, including the three women and one man that were thrown overboard at the time of Orange County high-speed boat collision.

Lt. Mike Janson of the Harbor Patrol told reporters that one person that was tossed into the water had facial cuts and complained of knee and forearm pain. Emergency personnel tended to those who were injured and all four people were hospitalized. Further information regarding their injuries has not been made public.

Aside from speeding, there are many common factors that may have contributed to the boating crash. Distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and breaking waterway laws are contributing factors of waterway collisions, which can cause serious damage to people and their property.

It has been our experience, here at Dara Khajavi Law Offices that in the event of a boat accident occurring at high speeds, the people riding the boat tend to incur more serious injuries on average than those who crash at lower velocities.

No matter how bad your Orange County boating accident is, give us a call before you contact an insurance company and file a claim. Call us at (877) 782-3777 for more information. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience and offer FREE consultations. We would like to hear about your case and let you know how we can assist you.