Woman injured in boat collision on Long Lake

A man was arrested under suspicion of assault by watercraft after a boat collision sent one woman to the hospital late Tuesday night.

At about 11:30 p.m., Marvin Olson, 43, was traveling from Suncrest Park to Willow Bay Resort on Long Lake in his 1988 Cobalt when his boat struck a 1989 Carver operated by Lindsay Mullen, which was carrying two additional passengers, court records say. The collision caused Mullen to be thrown around violently in the front cabin.

She suffered a break to her cervical spine, a broken bone on her right hand, and multiple lacerations on the back of her head and leg, which required stitches, court records say. Mullen was transported to Providence Holy Family Hospital, and her condition is unknown at this time. The two occupants sitting on the back of the boat were uninjured.

The victim’s boat apparently was anchored and not moving, and had its anchor light, red/green navigation lights and two cabin lights on. Deputies say Olson’s boat was traveling in excess of the wake speed while within 100 feet of another boat, in addition to traveling in excess of the 15 mph speed limit at night.

Sheriff’s deputies say both boats were damaged in the collision, but neither sank.

Olson was released from custody Thursday when the presiding judge found insufficient evidence of probable cause. The sheriff’s office requested an assault by watercraft charge, however, jail records show that Olson was booked on vehicular assault. The judge said he found no probable cause because a boat is not included in the definition of a vehicle.

County prosecutors say suspects are sometimes released when probable cause is not sufficient, but charges are refiled before the statue of limitations runs out.