By James Gilbert
The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.
YUMA, Ariz. — A Yuma Fire Department captain was listed in serious condition in a Phoenix hospital Monday with injuries suffered in a swift water training accident, while two other firefighters were treated and released from Yuma Regional Medical Center.
According Yuma County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher, Capt. Gene Tutell sustained lacerations to his face and head, seven broken ribs and possible head injuries after being ejected from a personal watercraft and had to be flown to St. Joseph’s for further treatment.
Bratcher said Tutell was riding on a skid being pulled behind the personal watercraft at about 11 a.m. Sunday when it struck some tules along the bank of the Colorado River about two miles west of the West Wetlands Park. The skid is an apparatus used to transport injured patients.
YFD spokesman Mike Erfert said the personal watercraft was used for swift water rescues.
Two people riding on the personal watercraft -- firefighter/EMT Jordan Bowers and dispatcher Heather Monreal -- were thrown from the watercraft following the collision.
According to Bratcher, Bowers was driving the personal watercraft at the time of the accident and Monreal was riding behind him on it as a passenger. Monreal was participating in the training as a part of orientation to fire department operations.
Bratcher said the personal watercraft was traveling about 30 mph when the accident occurred.
“Everyone was wearing personal floatation devices at the time of the accident,” Bratcher said.
Tutell suffered his injuries when he struck the handlebars of the personal watercraft, Bratcher said. Bowers complained of leg pains following the accident and Monreal complained of back pains.
All three were transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by Rural/Metro ambulance for evaluation of those injuries. Tutell was transferred to St. Joseph’s, while Bowers and Monreal were treated and released.
Erfert said on Sunday that since firefighters were actually conducting swift water rescue training at the time, they had all the necessary equipment and personnel to handle the emergency and transport the injured individuals the two miles to the boat landing at West Wetlands Park.
Bratcher added that YCSO considers the incident an accident and does not plan to issue any citations.
Copyright 2008, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.