Seven people, including Maryland Del. Don H. Dwyer Jr., were taken to hospitals after two boats collided in Anne Arundel County, officials said.
The collision occurred at about 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Magothy River near Pasadena. The river feeds into the Chesapeake Bay.
Capt. Jerry Kirkwood with Maryland Natural Resources Police said that the two boats were traveling in opposite directions. One tried to veer out of the way, but a collision wasn’t avoided.
After the collision, civilians in the community took their own boats out to help rescue the victims, said Lt. Keith Hamilton with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.
Four children and three adults were taken to hospitals. Hamilton said that six of the patients transported had serious injuries.
The 54-year-old Dwyer, R-Anne Arundel, and a 40-year-old man were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma.
A 5-year-old girl was flown to the Johns Hopkins pediatric trauma center with life-threatening injuries, Hamilton said. Two boys, ages 7 and 12, were taken to the pediatric trauma center by ground transport. A 10-year-old boy was taken to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins.
A 51-year-old man whose injuries were not as serious was taken to a local hospital, Hamilton said. Additionally, one juvenile and one adult refused care offered, Hamilton said.
