2 Boats Collide In Marina Del Rey Splitting 1 Vessel In Half

MARINA DEL REY (CBS) — Two boats collided in the main channel of Marina Del Rey Sunday splitting one vessel in half.

Witnesses said a 25-foot motorized boat slammed into a outrigger vessel with a 9-person crew. The outrigger -- belonging to a beginner's group with the LA Rowing Club, was cut in half.

One member of that crew, a female Riverside resident, complained of back troubles and was airlifted to a local hospital. She was treated and later released.

The accident was reported just before 8:20 a.m.

Witnesses quoted the captain of the electronic boat as saying he never saw the outrigger. It is unclear if his boat sustained any damage.

Marina officials wanted to remind the public to "take extra precaution while enjoying the Marina this Memorial Day weekend."

One witness told Cristy Fajardo, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, that the adults in the outrigger complained about being very cold. Said Melanie Salter, "I pulled five people out of the water and I was trying to help people until help arrived."

Salter says, "I gave them life jackets. And I tried to get them warm until lifeguards got there."

The driver of the motorized vehicle, identified as Peter Sorrento of Chatsworth, was cited for failure to follow established boating rules, a violation of California State boating laws.

One member of the crew didn't want to appear on camera, but he told Fajardo that he saw the motorboat coming, that he "yelled and screamed for the driver to stop."