Drunk Boater Abandons Jet Ski When He Realizes He’s About to Hit Another Jet Ski Carrying 2 Kids

A drunk boater jumped off his rented jet ski on Saturday when he realized he was about to crash into another jet ski, leaving two children injured, one of them seriously.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Daniel Patrick Grubert, 48, was racing yet another jet ski riderSaturday afternoon near Johns Pass. Investigators say he “was not looking ahead of him, and took his eyes off his direction of travel.”

When he did turn around and look where he was going, he “realized a crash was about to occur, and jumped off the WaveRunner,” leaving his vehicle to crash into one operated by Walter Wodzien.

Grubert Affidavits by kc wildmoon

Wodzien and the two children — a 7-year-old and and 8-year-old — were rescued from the water by the Madeira Beach Fire Department. The children were rushed to a local hospital, one with life-threatening injuries. Wodzien was not injured.

Investigators said Grubert “showed signs of impairment and performed poorly on Field Sobriety Tests.” According to a probable cause affidavit, he told officers he had a single Twisted Tea but refused to take a breath test. Police said he smelled of alcohol, had red eyes, and “thick speech.”

Blood draws were taken, and investigators are awaiting the results of those.

Grubert was charged with two counts of boating under the influence causing seriously bodily injury and one count of reckless operation of a vessel.

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[Featured image: Daniel Patrick Grubert/Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office]