ST. LOUIS–A 15-year-old O’Fallon, Missouri girl is dead after being hit by a boat at Table Rock Lake Sunday. The Missouri Highway Patrol says a pontoon boat hit the girl, and also struck a 16-year-old Ballwin boy who has minor injuries.

The Missouri Highway Patrol (MSHP) says the boat’s driver, a 62-year-old man from O’Fallon, dropped off the two teenagers and 5 other children at Breezy Point to swim before the crash. 

Trooper Sam Carpenter with the MSHP says it’s unclear why he drove back near the area where he just dropped off the group. The boat also hit a rock bluff. The boat driver’s blood alcohol level was under the legal limit of .08%.

“Safety sometimes takes a backseat,” said Trooper Carpenter, but he stresses it needs to be a priority out on the lake. The two victims weren’t wearing life jackets, something Carpenter stresses people should wear regardless of swimming ability.

He also added that the heat this week could affect people in different ways and could have the adverse effects of your day out on the lake.