A Florida man has been ticketed after a boat crash on Cayuga Lake last Friday afternoon that left two people injured, including one who was airlifted to the hospital.
The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office says the collision happened around 1:30 p.m. near Long Point State Park in the town of Ledyard. Investigators say 68-year-old John Tiaskkun of Hawthorne, Florida, was operating a 23-foot 1987 Larson boat that struck a 2019 Tracker fishing boat.
The fishing vessel, operated by Anthony Rapoza, was troll fishing about 300 feet off the shoreline when it was hit. Deputies say Tiaskkun’s larger boat ended up on top of the Tracker after the impact.
Rapoza was seriously injured and flown by LifeNet helicopter to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he remains in stable condition. His passenger, Paul Davis, was taken by ambulance to the same hospital and has since been released.
Four passengers in Tiaskkun’s boat were uninjured.
Following an investigation, Tiaskkun was found at fault and issued several tickets, including for reckless operation of a vessel, operating without a boating safety certificate, and using expired visual distress signals.
The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Aurora, Union Springs, Cayuga, Aurelius and King Ferry fire departments, as well as Four Town Ambulance, Auburn City Ambulance, Cayuga County Emergency Services, and the DEC. The county’s 911 Center also assisted with the initial response and investigation.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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