Child dead following Lake Pleasant boating accident

LAKE PLEASANT, Ariz. - A child is dead after being struck by a boat on Lake Pleasant, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The incident reportedly happened at a cove on the northern part of the lake called Paul's Hideaway.

"Our hearts go out to this family dealing with this tragic situation," said Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez with MCSO, during a news conference on July 28. 

According to deputies, two families came out to Lake Pleasant at around 7:00 a.m. They were swimming and wakeboarding all morning, and at around 11:00 a.m., they made a 911 call for a boat accident. 

"The boat operator goes to go forward with someone who is already ready to go wakeboarding, and they run over this little girl," said Sgt. Enriquez. "When the boat went forward, we do believe that the child that was struck by the boat, ran over, and eventually got a prop cut to her leg."

The boat operator was identified by officials with MCSO as the mother of the child who died.

"Some boaters, came helped them out. They loaded the child onto the boat and drove her over to the Pleasant Harbor Marina, where the Peoria Fire Department was standing by on scene," said Sgt. Enriquez.

Deputies say the boat operator was not impaired.

"It looks like all life jackets are there," said Sgt. Enriquez. "Fire extinguishers, things that need to be on the boat were on the boat. It’s our information right now that the owners of the boat are experienced boaters. Once again, it is to believe at this point in the investigation this is absolutely a tragic accident."

Lake Pleasant: