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Cousins hurt after personal watercraft collide

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TBO.com staff

Published: July 5, 2009

Cousins riding personal watercraft near Anclote Island collided this morning, leaving both injured.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Helena Brown, 15, of Suffolk, Va., and her cousin Jason Parker, 29, of Mableton, Ga., were riding watercraft in the Intracoastal Waterway between Anclote Island and Three Rooker Bar about 10 a.m. today.

They had left Anclote River Park about 15 minutes earlier and headed north when they lost sight of each other, the sheriff's office said.

Parker continued north while Brown headed west. They saw each other but not in time to avoid Parker's craft hitting the side of Brown's personal watercraft, throwing both into the water, the sheriff's office said.

Brown was knocked unconscious and rescued by paramedics aboard a sheriff's office boat. She was taken to Helen Ellis Hospital for treatment of what the sheriff's office described as non-life threatening injuries.

Parker drove himself back to the park and family members drove him to a hospital. The sheriff's office cited Parker with violation of inland navigation rules because Brown had the right of way.

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