A Cloquet man was treated for a head laceration and bruised ribs Saturday afternoon after a boating accident in Stoney Brook Township, according to a news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department.
Jerry Neufeld, 71, was alone in his 16-foot Larson boat attempting to drain the water from it, but the bilge pump was not working.
While Neufeld walked to the stern of the boat, the boat turned in the wind toward shore and he looked up just before striking his own pontoon that was partially pulled up on shore. He did have time to cut back on the engine, but was unable to stop the crash. Neufeld was thrown forward and struck the windshield. Officers and other skilled workers from the Fond du Lac Police Department, St. Louis County Rescue Squad, Stoney Brook First Responders and Cloquet ambulance responded to the incident. Neufeld was treated at Cloquet Memorial Hospital.
