Sheriffs Seek Suspect in Hit-and-Run on Middle Straits Lake

 reports from June 5-June 11 included 88 alarms, 35 crashes and 16 arrests. Among the highlights:

Sheriffs seek suspect in hit-and-run on Middle Straits Lake

Oakland County Sheriffs are investigating a hit-and-run boating accident which occurred about 7 p.m. Sunday on Middle Straits Lake.

According to Lt. Tim Diamond, a man was seen driving a Supreme brand water ski boat into a pontoon boat with people on it, before driving away at a high rate of speed. Diamond continued that the boat began sinking somewhere on the lake and was abandoned as the man swam to shore and fled on foot.

People were on the pontoon, Diamond said, but no injuries were reported. It is unclear how fast the water ski boat had been traveling as it hit the pontoon.

Witnesses told police that the man had been seen drinking at a sandbar prior to the incident. Based on witness statements, Diamond said, police believe they know who the man is, but could not find him.

Toddler fine after being thrown from craft on Cass Lake

A 3-year-old Waterford boy should be fine after a boating accident Sunday in which he was thrown from a personal watercraft, according to Fire Marshal Pat Riney.

Diamond said that at about 2 p.m. Sunday, police were called to a boat hoist on Grand Court, near Cass Lake, in response to an accident. A mother and father had brought their twin boys on two crafts that day, Diamond said, and as the crafts were being docked, one of the watercrafts hit the other.

Diamond continued that the parents had turned the engines off and waded in the water in order to bring the crafts ashore, with one boy in each craft. The boy in the trailing boat accidentally pressed the throttle, Diamond said, and the craft he was on hit the craft that his brother was on.

Riney said that the boy was thrown on to a boat hoist, where he sustained minor cuts and bruises on his face. He was transported to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital and is believed to be fine.

"That's just a weird, freak thing," Diamond said.

If you have any information about this incident, you can call West Bloomfield Police at (248) 975-9200. For questions about this report, email tim.rath@patch.com.