GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. — A 16-year-old boy from Gloucester was killed after the personal watercraft he was riding on collided with his stepfather's pontoon boat on the York River Sunday, Virginia Marine Police said.
The crash happened off Machicomoco State Park in Gloucester County. Marine police officers responded to the Gloucester Point Boat Ramp around 3 p.m. after the collision was reported.
Zachary Widgeon, Public Information Officer with Virginia Marine Police said investigators are still gathering witness testimony, but so far they believe the collision is an accident.
"It's been a long time since we've had an accident on this scale, and our deepest sympathies are with the family and all those impacted," said Widgeon.
Widgeon said 10 people were on the pontoon boat when the collision happened, and those passengers recovered the teen from the water and brought him to the boat ramp.
Gloucester County Volunteer Fire and Rescue provided rescue services, but the teen was declared dead at the scene.
"The fact that he is so young, and that it happened in front of his family is just awful," said one Hampton Roads boater. "I have no idea how his family must be feeling right now."
At this point, it's not clear who caused the crash, only that the 16-year-old drove a Yamaha personal watercraft and the boy's stepfather operated the pontoon boat at the time of the collision.
Virginia Marine Police said alcohol isn't believed to be a factor in the collision and no charges are pending.
No one else was hurt.