Elle Kim And Sarina Vootkur Obituary, Lake Forest CA, 2 Girls Killed In WaveRunner-boat Crash on Lake Marie in Antioch: Two teenage girls who were tragically killed in a boat and WaveRunner collision on Tuesday have been identified, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred on Lake Marie, part of the Chain O’Lakes, around 5:15 p.m., prompting a response from the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Patrol Division. The victims have been identified as Elle Kim, 13, from Long Grove, Illinois, and Sarina Vootkur, 16, from Lake Forest, California.
According to investigators, Vootkur was operating a Yamaha WaveRunner near the channel to Grass Lake when a boat, driven by a 55-year-old man from Antioch, approached the same area. Witnesses reported that the WaveRunner was traveling at a high speed directly towards the boat, resulting in a collision. Both girls, who were wearing life vests, were thrown into the water and knocked unconscious upon impact. The occupants of the boat quickly retrieved the girls from the water, provided aid, and called 911. The medical examiner confirmed that both girls succumbed to blunt force injuries sustained in the crash.
They were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where they were later pronounced dead. It remains unclear whether Vootkur possessed a boating safety certificate, which is mandatory in Illinois for anyone born after June 1998. The certification requires completing an eight-hour course sanctioned by the Department of Natural Resources. Authorities stated that there was no indication of impairment in either the boat or WaveRunner operators. No additional injuries were reported from the accident. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, in conjunction with the Illinois Conservation Police, is continuing to investigate the incident.
