Investigators have concluded that the 23-year-old driver of a personal watercraft caused a July crash on Navajo Lake that left one woman dead and another severely injured.
Autumn Rymerson of Durango paid a $600 fine to settle four violations of boating regulations, including unlawful operation of a vessel in a careless manner and unlawful operation of a vessel towing a water skier, or in this case a tuber, without an observer on board. She was also issued warnings for violations of two other boating regulations.
Rymerson was towing three people, including Mikayla Wright, 25, on two inner tubes at about 10 or 15 mph to the west on July 6 when she failed to yield right of way to a 20-foot ski boat traveling south at about 20 to 25 mph.
The ski boat operator did everything correctly, but nonetheless overran one tube carrying two passengers, killing Wright.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Investigator Brian Phillips concluded that Rymerson’s attention was likely diverted from safely operating her watercraft because she did not have an observer, as required, and needed to watch the tubers over her shoulder and in her mirrors.
“This, I believe, was a critical error since all parties interviewed made comments that there was a lot of boating traffic on the lake that day, and that they had consciously attempted to avoid other boats earlier in the day,” Phillips wrote in a report obtained through a Colorado Open Records Act request.
Those close to Wright, including several people present the day of the accident, say they don’t blame Rymerson.
The operator of the ski boat, whose name was redacted, told Phillips that the personal watercraft “came out of nowhere.” Rymerson told the investigator that she did not see the boat until it was behind her and it was too late. The boat operator pulled back on the throttle but did not have time to avoid striking the tubers.
The third, uninjured tuber towed by Rymerson saw the incoming boat and let go of his tube. When his head bobbed above water, he yelled to warn the other two tubers of the impending collision.
After the collision, Rymerson panicked and drove the personal watercraft to shore while the operator of the other boat collected the three tubers and one of his passengers, who had been thrown overboard by the impact. Lifesaving measures were begun while the boat traveled back to shore.
Wright died of accidental blunt force trauma to the head, according to an autopsy report.
Rymerson did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
Phillips asked Rymerson, in the presence of an attorney, if she or anyone else had consumed alcohol that day. She declined to answer. The uninjured tuber said that Rymerson had a single beer around five hours before the collision.
Archuleta County Sheriff’s deputies performed a field sobriety test on someone (the identity of that person was redacted although it was likely not Rymerson, as her name was left unredacted throughout the report) and did not detect any alcohol.
Initially, Phillips recommended a charge of criminally negligent homicide, a felony. However, prosecutors in the 6th Judicial District concluded there was not sufficient evidence to support such a charge.
“This was a tragic incident,” Phillips said in a written statement provided by CPW’s spokesman. “It highlights the importance of taking a boating safety course and being familiar with the navigational rules of vessel operation regardless of your experience or the size and type of the vessel you are operating.”
“We are grateful for the compassion and support this community has provided during this tragic accident. Neither I nor anyone in Autumn’s life blames her,” said Wright’s partner, Ben Glenn, in a written statement. “This was an accident, and it should be understood as such. Mikayla’s ability to find beauty in all living things is what life is all about. As she once wrote, ‘Do what a dandelion would do, and blow hope into the wind, and remember the warmth of the sun, for no rumbling will cloud you from happiness.’”
rschafir@durangoherald.com
