A serious boat collision in Muskoka Lakes Township on Saturday left a swimmer critically injured and led to impaired driving charges against a boater.
Bracebridge OPP and emergency crews responded to multiple calls just before 5 p.m. reporting that a boat had struck a swimmer in Skeleton Lake, near Skeleton Lake Road 5. Bystanders helped pull the injured swimmer from the water.
The 22-year-old man from Georgina was airlifted to a Toronto hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police later arrested Richard Moore, a 39-year-old resident of Niagara Falls in connection with the incident. He faces several charges, including impaired operation causing bodily harm, failing to stop after an accident, refusing to comply with a demand, and breaching a release order. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
Authorities emphasized that impaired operation of any vehicle—including boats—carries the same legal consequences and urged the public to report suspected impairment by calling 911.