19-year-old Morgan Montgomery's body was recovered yesterday after she was hit while water skiing. It will be several days before we know exactly what led to the death of the Australian native on Alum Creek Lake.
Investigators are now looking into how a boat possibly could have hit Montgomery.
Marina worker Jim Ferrar didn't witness the horrific tragedy, but after 30 years doing maintenance on the boats on the lake, he's seen enough recklessness. "You've got to pay attention, watch where the other boats are because you might think that they're watching you, but they're not. All they want to do is go fast," explained Ferrar.
The investigation is ongoing, but witnesses say several boats were racing in the same area where Montgomery was water skiing.
All types of recreation are allowed in Alum Creek Lake, so no one is excluded from using the water. Most bodies of water in the state fall in this category for that reason.
There are also no limits on horsepower and no speed limits on the open water because ODNR says it is nearly impossible to enforce.
Statistics show only a third of boating accidents happen on lakes with open water and unlimited horsepower.
ODNR Region Manager Andy Hollenback says it is the first accident that he can remember where a skier or tuber was struck by another boat.
But Ferrar thinks is accident was inevitable. "If you're busy going in a go-fast boat, 50 to 70 miles an hour, and you're not watching out, you're going to run into something.”
Montgomery's parents are flying into Columbus on Wednesday. The church camp she was with will stay through the weekend as planned.