UPDATED: Tuesday, 1:59 p.m.
A Haysville man was arrested Friday night following a boating accident on Winfield City Lake that sent a 10-year-old girl to a Wichita hospital in critical condition.
Jacob T. Williams, 34, of Haysville, was arrested on a charge of boating under the influence and taken to the Cowley County Jail, according to Cowley County Attorney Larry Schwartz Tuesday.
Williams, who was arrested by Kansas Wildlife and Parks, was released on a $1,000 bond.
Schwartz told Cowley Post any additional charges remain under investigation.
The child, Rielynn Martin, also of Haysville, suffered severe skull and brain injures after two boats collided at the lake just before 5 p.m. Friday.
Chad Martin, her father, told Cowley Post Tuesday afternoon doctors took her off coma medication Monday morning following surgery and that her brain activity is increasing and improving, but remains in a coma.
“They will try to wake her up in a couple days,” Martin posted on his Facebook page Sunday. “She is such a fighter and so strong. The prayers are working and things are still headed in the right direction.”
Kansas Game Warden Clint Lee, who was on scene that day at the lake, said five people were injured in the accident — an adult male, a juvenile male, two other juvenile females — one of which was transported to the hospital with minor injuries — and Martin.
Lee said one boat was registered to Sedgwick County and the other to Sumner County, with three people on one and eight on the other.
As far as who was on which boat, that information is still pending and under investigation, Lee said. All passengers were from outside Cowley County.
Lee added one boat was traveling not more than idle speed, while the other was traveling faster — but not believed to be at an excessive speed.
“The biggest concern was negligent operations,” Lee said.
The Winfield Police Department, Winfield Fire/EMS and the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.
From Friday:
One child was transported to a Wichita hospital early Friday evening following a boating accident at Winfield City Lake.
According to Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong, two boats were involved and other injuries were reported.
A call to Eagle Med was called off.
“Kansas Wildlife and Parks will take the lead on the investigation due to it involving watercraft on the water,” DeLong said.
More information will be added as soon as it is available.
