GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A father and two of his teenage sons were seriously hurt Sunday after their boat exploded while preparing to launch on an Oakland County lake.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office says rescue crews were dispatched to a public boat launch on Pontiac Lake at around 1:20 p.m. Sunday. The 17-foot boat reportedly exploded and caught fire when the ignition switch was turned on.
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A 45-year-old man and two 16-year-old boys were hurt. One of the teens was listed in critical condition. He reportedly had burns over half of his body. The father and the other son were also hospitalized with severe burns. They were last listed in stable condition.
The fire had burned itself out by the time rescue crews had arrived. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
“We urge all boaters to verify that their equipment, including fire extinguishers, are safe and in proper working order,” the OCSO said in a news release.
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