(Wahpeton)– A Milford man was injured late Tuesday afternoon when a boat he was fishing from on West Lake Okoboji was struck by another boat, which then fled the scene.
Gary Owen of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Robert Fitzgerald of Milford was alone in an 18-foot Ranger fishing boat off of Eagle Point when another boat crashed into his. Upon impact, the suspect boat wound up on top of Fitzgerald’s boat, swamping it. Fitzgerald was thrown into the water upon impact. A person in another nearby boat jumped into the water and held Fitzgerald up until they could be rescued by the Lakes Patrol.
Fitzgerald was taken to Lakes Regional Healthcare. His age and condition weren’t immediately available.
Owen says the suspect boat is predominantly white in color with a blue stripe. The 21 to 22 foot long boat was last seen headed into Emmerson Bay on West Lake Okoboji. Witnesses describe a man on that boat as being 50 to 60 years-old and balding.
Authorities spent most of Tuesday evening looking for the suspect boat, but to no avail.
Anyone with any information regarding the crash should contact authorities.
The incident took place shortly before 5:00 p.m. Tuesday.
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