FULTON COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Investigators are still looking into Monday’s fatal jet ski crash on Great Sacandaga Lake. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is urging riders to take extra precautions ahead of the busy summer season.

“We find that there are several factors involving serious injuries, fatal accidents. Among those are the consumption of alcoholic beverages, unfamiliarity of the lake. We also find reckless driving and individuals who operate jet skis or boats and don’t have enough time on them,” said Sheriff Richard Giardino.

Helping local law enforcement keep Fulton County safe is the Adirondack Jetski Club. It conducts safe boating courses and describes jet skis as problematic in the recreational boating community.

“If people follow the regulations in their training and they have basic navigational skills, most of these incidents are avoidable. What it comes down to is people aren’t situationally aware. You know, people become distracted just like texting and driving,” explained Kevin O’Flaherty with the club.

NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski and intern Noah Keim spoke to an Adirondack Watershed Institute employee named Steve at the Broadalbin Boat Launch. He described that the day after the accident, another jet skier was going above the 5 mph speed limit in the no wake zone, a buoyed off area near the shore. But farther out, there isn’t a set speed limit.

“It’s safe speed. The operator is responsible for navigating the vessel in a safe manner. A lot of that comes down to not just your amount of time and experience on the water but water conditions, weather conditions, flow, chop,” stated O’Flaherty.

And officials made it clear that you should always wear a life jacket on the water. “You’re life’s gonna be saved more likely than not. We know that the high percentage of drownings are the result of not having life preservers or personal floatation devices on them but statistically, they make a difference,” said Sheriff Giardino.

The Sheriff’s Office is looking to speak with the Good Samaritans that stopped and helped the victims of the fatal crash. They were operating a red and black vessel. Anyone who has information on their identity is asked to call 518-736-2100. More details on the investigation will be shared next week.

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