2 hurt when boat goes over dam in St. Charles

Illinois Department of Natural Resources police are investigating an boating accident in St. Charles late Friday night that saw minor injuries for some of the passengers.

St. Charles police responded to an emergency call at about 11:25 p.m. about a boat plummeting over the dam on the Fox River at Route 64. Emergency crews found six males struggling in the water when they arrived.

Once out of the water, rescue personnel found one 20-year-old man from Batavia with lacerations to his buttocks. Another passenger, a 42-year-old man from Bolingbrook swallowed a large amount of water. Both men where taken to Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva for treatment.

The other four men also plunged into the water, but refused medical treatment.

The owner of the 20-foot boat told police the accident occurred shortly after the boat took off from a dock near the Hotel Baker in St. Charles. The hotel is adjacent to the Fox River, near the dam. The owner of the boat, a 49-year-old man from Carol Stream, told police he turned the boat to head north up the river, but didn't allow enough room for the white and blue vessel to clear the dam. The hull and propeller collided with the dam, causing it to lose thrust and tumble over the dam. The drop was less than 10 feet.

The St. Charles Fire Department tried to extricate the boat from the dam that evening, but were unsuccessful. A tow truck was called in Saturday morning and pulled the boat out.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources officers were unreachable Monday for comment.