Sacramento man involved in boating accident on Shasta Lake, Shasta County deputies say

A Sacramento man was involved in a rental boating accident out on Shasta Lake on Saturday afternoon that left one person injured, according to law enforcement officials.

In a news release, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said Usman Khalid went to Shasta Lake for some sightseeing with his three nephews and rented a boat from Holiday Harbor Marina.

Just before 5 p.m., the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office communications center received a call notifying deputies that there had been an accident on the McCloud Arm of the lake.

Responding deputies found an unoccupied ski boat that had driven about 37 feet up onto the embankment of the lake.

The Sheriff’s Office determined that Khalid, 34, had gotten a ride back to the marina. There, he told deputies that while they were heading back on the boat, he dropped his sunglasses, and in the moments while his eyes were diverted, the boat hit the shore, according to the Shasta County officials.

Khalid had never driven a boat before and had not gone through boater safety courses, according to deputies. One of Khalid’s nephews suffered minor injuries upon impact.

“The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind boaters recreating on the waterways to pay attention to their surroundings, maintain a proper lookout at all times and wear your life jacket,” officials said in a prepared statement. “A California Boaters Education Card is mandatory for all recreational boat operators between the ages of 16-35.”

The rental company will be recovering the boat over the next few days. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.

This story was originally published August 2, 2020 at 1:03 PM.