Sheldrake Point boating accident investigation complete

Seneca County Sheriff’s Deputies have completed their investigation into a boating accident that occurred on 07/10/2015 at 10:16 pm on Cayuga Lake in the area of Sheldrake Point which resulted in property damage and injuries to two of the boat occupants.Deputies report that the boat operator, Daniel J. Balmer, 45, of 324 Pollard Hill Road, Johnson City, New York was operating a 19 foot Larson boat south-bound on Cayuga Lake in the area of Sheldrake Point and reported he failed to observe and collided with a lighted navigation marker causing extensive damage to the boat. Balmer suffered head and facial injuries and a passenger in the boat Marguerite A. Malone, 35, 324 Pollard Hill Road, Johnson City, New York suffered head and facial injuries.Both Balmer and Malone were transported by South Seneca Ambulance to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, where they were treated and released. Balmer was charged with Reckless Operation of a vessel, a Navigation Law Misdemeanor and has been ordered to appear in Town of Ovid Court on August 25, 2015 at 10:00 AM.Deputies were assisted by the Interlaken and Ovid Fire Departments and South Seneca Ambulance.