Posted: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:18 AM - 10,011 Readers

By: Isadora Vail and David C. Doolittle

After searching for nearly an hour, county officials found a man and a woman whose boat had crashed on Lake Travis about 2:10 a.m.

Several witnesses called just before midnight to report a 22-foot boat that crashed into an island that was created by low water on the lake.

Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to the water rescue near Emerald Point Marina off Hiline Road. Officials said the small island was across from Carlos and Charlie’s restaurant.

An adult man who had back and ankle pain was transported by ambulance to University Medical Center Brackenridge, and a woman refused treatment, officials said.

It is unclear whether either was wearing a life jacket, said Krista Umscheid-Ramirez, a spokeswoman for the Lower Colorado River Authority, which is leading the investigation.

Other agencies that assisted in the rescue were Hudson Bend Fire Department, Austin Police Department Air One and the LCRA.

Lake Travis is 23 feet below its average elevation for June, said Bob Rose, a meteorologist with the LCRA. The lake is currently at 648.3 feet above sea level, Rose said.

Umscheid-Ramirez said boaters should use caution on the lake, especially at night.

“People need to go slower,” she said. “The water may not allow them to get through, and they could damage their boat, run aground or crash into something.”