Waverunner crash injures boys

One of brothers suffers critical injuries after the watercraft careens ashore into a stand of trees.

By CHRIS TISCH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 4, 2001

CLEARWATER -- The silver and white Yamaha Waverunner whizzed past several trees, thumped against a bony root, then clipped a tree trunk on its right side before ricocheting forward Tuesday afternoon.

But after slamming ashore and threading through trees for 95 feet, the 150-horsepower watercraft came to an immediate halt when it smacked a thick tree. The impact took a football-sized, half-inch-deep bite out of the tree. Atop the craft: Two brothers, ages 11 and 9. Both were bloodied by the impact.

The oldest boy, Benjamin Bernard, who was operating the watercraft, was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where law enforcement officials said he was in critical condition with swelling to his brain.

His brother, Daniel Bernard, was believed to have ridden to the hospital with his father. Though witnesses said the boy was bleeding from the nose, his injuries were not serious.

The boys' father, Norman Bernard, and his neighbor, Dave Hulvert, are under investigation because they are suspected of letting the boys be on the watercraft by themselves. State law requires operators to be at least 14.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said the State Attorney's Office will decide if charges should be filed. Allowing an underage child to operate a watercraft is a misdemeanor, though it can be a felony if serious injuries occur.

The incident occurred about 2 p.m. at Lake Lucille, a small body of water in north-central Clearwater. The impact occurred near the intersection of Gentry Street and Nelson Avenue. The boys live about a block away at 1639 Sherwood St.

Hulvert told the Times that he and Norman Bernard were watching the boys when the accident happened.

"They were just tolling about and they lost control," he said. "I'm not worried about the boat. I just worry that he's going to be fine."

After answering some questions, Hulvert declined to say more, though he cooperated with FWC investigators.

Witnesses and law enforcement officials said the boys were going fast when they came ashore, perhaps around 40 mph.

"He came up to the land too fast," said Shaun Bunch, a 12-year-old boy who saw the crash. "He was screaming."

Witnesses said Benjamin was semi-conscious and bleeding from the nose, while it appeared his brother just hit his head against his big brother's back.

Neighbors said Benjamin is a nice and energetic boy who likes to play baseball and games with friends. He is going into the sixth grade.

As holiday fireworks erupted along nearby streets, neighborhood kids gazed at the gash on the tree, the smashed front of the Waverunner and a bloody life jacket left at the scene.

FWC officials said the incident serves as a powerful reminder that boating safety is very important, particularly on holidays when waterways are crammed with people.

Neighbors said people fish from the lake or sometimes paddle a canoe on it, but rarely take motorized vessels on it. Some neighbors said it's illegal to take motorized boats on Lake Lucille.

FWC officials said it would be a county ordinance, not a state law, that would apply to Lake Lucille. The ordinance would require signs to be posted, but a circling of the lake by a Times reporter found no signs outlawing boating.

John Benson, who lives down the street from where the accident happened, said he warned Bernard and Hulvert that the boating was illegal just minutes before the accident happened.

He saw the watercraft head to shore and thought they heeded his advice, but then he saw the Waverunner crawl back to the middle of the lake minutes later. He said the craft, which officials said has a top speed of about 65 mph, was going fast.

"They were motoring about. They were creating waves and everything," Benson said.

Benson said a neighbor had called police to report the Waverunner about 45 minutes before the accident happened. Clearwater police said they received no such call.

But one neighbor said he didn't see anything wrong with the two adults supervising the boys on the watercraft.

"It was just family people down there trying to have some fun," said Chris Eckard, who lives a couple blocks away from the lake. "It's a bummer."

Of the boys' father, Eckard said: "He's a very responsible guy. He (Benjamin) was probably putting around and (something) happened."

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