What started as a sunny afternoon on Florida’s Gulf Coast took a terrifying turn when a WaveRunner rider slammed into a family on a jet ski, injuring two young children—one of them critically.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, near Johns Pass in Madeira Beach, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say 48-year-old Daniel Patrick Grubert was racing another jet ski at the time, and may have been intoxicated.
Grubert, who was operating a rented 2024 Yamaha WaveRunner, allegedly took his eyes off the water and didn’t see another jet ski ahead of him. When he finally realized a collision was imminent, he jumped off his craft. But it was too late.
His unmanned jet ski crashed into another rental, this one operated by 45-year-old Walter Wodzien, who had two children—ages 7 and 8—riding with him.
All three were thrown into the water from the force of the impact. Thankfully, rescue crews from the Madeira Beach Fire Department responded quickly and pulled them to safety.
The two children were rushed to a nearby hospital. One child is said to have suffered life-threatening injuries, while the other is recovering from less serious trauma. Wodzien was not injured.
Grubert, who is visiting from Piermont, New York, failed a field sobriety test and was arrested at the scene. He is now facing multiple felony charges, including two counts of boating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, and one count of reckless operation of a vessel.
WaveRunners can reach speeds over 65 miles per hour and weigh close to 1,000 pounds, making accidents like this incredibly dangerous.
Wodzien is a tourist visiting from Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Authorities have not released the names or updated conditions of the two children involved.
The investigation is still ongoing.
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