OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - One man sustained serious injuries to his head and shoulder after a boat hit him while he was in the water on Sunday evening while on Oakland County's Cass Lake.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said the watercraft incident occurred around 5:19 p.m. at Cass Lake in Waterford Township.
According to witnesses, a group of people were anchored in a popular -- and often troublesome -- sandbar along a row of homes off Cass Lake Front Street on the lake's east side and had been consuming alcohol when one man jumped off the front of their boat.
As he was in the water, another vessel came by and struck him.
Deputies responded to the scene and found the victim, who they identified as a 26-year-old man from Livonia, laying on the back of a pontoon boat with a large laceration to his head and right shoulder.
While witnesses said the man's arm was either nearly or totally severed and he sustained significant blood loss, officials have yet to confirm the extent of the man's injuries.
Deputies immediately rendered aid and transported the man back to the DNR Dodge 4 boat launch where paramedics took over.
The 26-year-old was rushed to a hospital, where his condition remains unknown at this time.
As revealed by their investigation, the sheriff's office confirmed witness reports that the man had jumped off his boat and was subsequently run over and struck by the motor propeller.
Deputies said the victim was not wearing a life jacket and alcohol appears to be a factor, although it was not clear if authorities were referring to the victim or the driver of the boat involved in the crash -- or both.
The incident remains under investigation. No other details were released by authorities.
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