Boat pulling tube collides with another near Lodi

On Saturday at 6:18 pm Sheriff Deputies responded to a report of a boating accident that occurred in the area of Caywood Beach in Lodi on Seneca Lake. It is reported that Volker Hartmann age 51 of 225 Oakhill Drive in Horseheads was operating his boat on Seneca Lake in a easterly direction while towing a tube with two 14-year-olds – Anna McKane and Katherine McKane of 42 Mamlock Lane in Painted Post.A boat operated by Matthew R Gestl, age 36 of 255 Williams Road in Bath, PA, was trolling along the lake while fishing.It is reported that Hartmann did not have a reliable spotter and he was attempting to both spot and navigate his vessel. While Hartmann was in tow he failed to see the vessel that Gestl was in, colliding with it.Erin E Lavdar, age 32, who was a passenger in Gestl’s vessel sustained a minor head injury from the accident, was treated at the scene by South Seneca Ambulance and signed off on further treatment.Hartmann and his passengers, Natalia Haiova-McKane, age 40, and John McKane, age 4, both of Painted Post, were uninjured. Also uninjured were Anna and Katherine McKane.Hartmann was issued tickets for reckless operation of a vessel and failure to have a spotter over the age of 10 years old while in tow. Both violations of the Navigation Laws of New York.He is to appear in the Town of Lodi Court on 07-22-14 at 10:00 am to answer the charges.