Bass Boats Collide On Lake Tenkiller; Three Hurt

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a boating collision Tuesday afternoon on Lake Tenkiller hurt three people.

Troopers said the incident occurred on the Cherokee County lake between Needles Point and Snake Creek at about 2:30 p.m.

The OHP said a 1996 Skeeter bass boat operated by James Williams, 43, of Ganns was headed east when it was struck by a southbound 1991 Ranger bass boat operated by Jeremy Bersche, 28, of Sallisaw.

Troopers said the impact threw Bersche and a passenger, Ernest Fletcher, 38, of Fort Smith out of their boat. Bersche wasn't injured, but Fletcher was taken to a Fort Smith hospital where he was treated and released.

The driver of the other boat, James Williams wasn't injured, but his two passengers - Jason Belt, 43, and Anthony Farris, 36, both from Sallisaw - were taken to the hospital. Belt was flown to a Tulsa hospital and Farris was taken to a Tahlequah hospital. Both were admitted and the OHP says both were stable.

The OHP says no one on either boat was wearing a life jacket.