One man was killed and two others injured in a two-boat collision Monday afternoon on Pelican Lake near Orr.
Leroy J. Czechowski, 84, of Royal, Ark., was fatally injured when the boat he was driving collided with another boat near Indian Point just outside of Orr, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
The men in the second boat, Gary L. Bundy, 56, of Gheen and Jase R. Plerchee, 28, of Orr, were taken by ambulance to the Cook hospital, where they were treated and released.
Officials believe the two were rounding Indian Point from opposite directions when they collided.
"It appears to be almost a head-on collision," said St. Louis County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Akerson. "At this point we can't determine yet if there is anyone actually at fault or if it was just a bad accident."
ADVERTISEMENT
Bundy and Plerchee work at Frank's Marine in Orr. Akerson said they were on the lake testing a customer's boat when the accident happened.
Akerson said one of the men jumped into the lake to try to save Czechowski. An employee of Frank's Marine said it was Plerchee.
Czechowski is from Arkansas but spent his summers camping at Pine Acres on Pelican Lake.
Neighbor and friend Eugene LeTendre said Czechowski could always be found with a fishing pole.
"He went out fishing every moment he had," LeTendre said.
He said Czechowski was fishing Monday when the accident happened.
Akerson said alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the accident. Life vests were found inside both boats but Akerson was unsure if they were worn at the time of the collision.
