Waverly, Ohio, Aug. 22, 2026. The Waverly Fire Department Water Rescue Team responded Friday evening to a boat collision on Lake White that left one person with serious injuries.
According to an official statement from the Waverly Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 7:56 p.m. on Aug. 21 to the Lake White Boat Ramp area. Reports indicated a boat had flipped upside down after colliding with another watercraft, with one person unresponsive in the middle of the lake.
The Water Rescue Team arrived as a boat brought the patient to shore. Team members provided first aid while waiting for emergency medical services. EMS personnel then stabilized the patient, who sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and transported the individual to Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly.
Additional firefighters launched the department’s rescue boat to assist with debris removal. Another crew boarded a bystander’s boat and, with the bystander’s help, worked to secure the damaged watercraft and prevent it from sinking.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the watercraft collision. The investigation remains pending, and no further details on the cause or those involved have been released.
Lake White is a 337-acre lake located in Lake White State Park in Pike County, just southwest of Waverly. The park and lake are popular for boating, fishing, and other recreation, with no horsepower restrictions on vessels.
The Waverly Fire Department said the incident serves as a reminder for all boaters to remain aware of their surroundings and the limitations of their watercraft while on the water.
The department also extended thanks to the bystanders who stepped in to help when seconds counted.
No identities of the injured person or others involved have been released. Updates will depend on the ongoing ODNR investigation and any additional official statements.
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