By Jeri Packer
Staff Writer

St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Marine Division Sgt. Don Berg is still waiting for more witnesses to come forward regarding a water accident between a boat and a Jet Ski on July 4.

There were many boaters out on the river on the Fourth in Clay Township, where Richard Kleiner, 49, resides. Kleiner is the father of Cortney Kleiner, of Fraser, who was seriously injured when she was thrown off her Jet Ski after a collision with a boat. Her condition has gone from critical to much-improved, and she was expected to come to the marine division office to make a formal statement today, Berg said.

Kleiner put up a $5,000 award, asking for the public’s help in finding the three men who were said to be on the boat that sideswiped the Jet Ski.

"We are still digging up witnesses," said Berg. "They are coming out of the woodwork. We are looking at boats that fit the description."

Security cameras from the U.S. Border Patrol may provide footage of the accident.

When the boat came in contact with the Jet Ski, both Cortney Kleiner and the driver of the Jet Ski were thrown off of the vehicle. The driver, whose identity is being kept anonymous, had no serious injuries.

Of the 25 years of service out on the waterways, Berg said that this year is topping the list for boating and water accidents.

"It's one of the worst seasons for boat accidents," he said. "We're swamped with calls."

They've had a lot of "fatals," six water-related, he said. Last year, they had a total of seven deaths for the year. Some of them are caused by factors including operator negligence, operator inexperience, drowning or suicide. In addition, many underage boaters don't get their boating certificates, he noted.

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