WAVERLY, Ohio — Emergency responders pulled a person from the water Friday night following a serious two-boat collision on Lake White that left one watercraft overturned and destroyed.
First responders with the Waverly Fire Department were dispatched to the Lake White Boat Ramp area around 7:56 p.m. on August 21, 2026. Initial emergency calls reported that a boat had flipped upside down after colliding with another watercraft, leaving one individual unresponsive in the middle of the lake.
Members of the department’s Water Rescue Team mobilized immediately and met a vessel bringing the injured person to shore. Firefighters administered emergency first aid until medical crews arrived. EMS personnel stabilized the victim, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and transported them to Adena Pike Medical Center for further treatment.
Rescue crews launched the department’s rescue boat to clear hazardous floating debris from the lake. Meanwhile, additional firefighters teamed up with a civilian bystander, using the Good Samaritan’s boat to reach and secure the damaged vessel before it could sink.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement has taken the lead on the incident and is investigating the cause of the crash.
Following the rescue, the Waverly Fire Department commended the quick-thinking civilians who assisted during the emergency, emphasizing that their swift actions proved crucial when seconds counted. Local officials also urged all boaters to exercise caution, maintain situational awareness, and respect watercraft limitations while on the water.
