PALMYRA TOWNSHIP -- A woman and child were flown to a hospital after a jet ski explosion at Lake Wallenpaupack.
It happened Wednesday morning around 8 a.m. at Wilsonville Campground on Lake Wallenpaupack, near Hawley.
According to officials with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 43-year-old Rebecca Ruddy and her 7-year-old son from Mountain Top were hurt in this explosion.
They were flown to a hospital near Allentown to be treated for their injuries. Rebecca has a spinal injury and her son has a head injury.
Officials tell us it appears that the seat of the jet ski may have been the cause of the problem. Sometimes gas fumes fill up in the seat and an explosion can happen.
Witnesses tell us the jet ski and areas of the water at Lake Wallenpaupack were on fire but crews acted quickly to put the flames out.
"I heard a big boom and then saw some people moving on down this way so I came running and saw smoke and a fire," recalled Clarence Frederick of Saylorsburg.
"I am still nervous just talking about it," added Walter Korab of Stroudsburg. "I can't believe it, never expected it. I looked over and I thought, gosh! Just kabam! It just went up. First time I've ever seen anything like that."
The explosion was so strong that it sent parts of the jet ski flying all across the shoreline, starting from where the explosion happened to several docks away.
According to officials with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, it appears that the seat of the jet ski may have been the cause of the problem. Sometimes gas fumes fill up in the seat and an explosion can happen.
"When you gas up or you've been sitting outside in the sun, take the seat off and expose that motor area," advised Waterways Conservation Officer Robert Plumb.
Eric Sonteby owns the Lighthouse Harbor Marina near Hawley. He tells Newswatch 16 the extreme heat could also play a role.
"Always a good idea to check on the inside of the compartment. With the heat we have been having recently, that, of course, expands the fuel in the fuel tank and if it's not ventilated properly then there could be an issue."
