Two Boat Pilots Charged After 15-Year-Old Wakeboarder Fatally Struck in Tragic Boating Incident

LAKE AUSTIN, TX — A day of water sports turned deadly on Lake Austin after a 15-year-old girl was fatally struck by a boat following a wakeboarding accident. Now, two boat operators are facing criminal charges in connection with the tragedy, which authorities say could have been prevented with better coordination and adherence to boating safety laws.

The incident occurred on May 25, during the busy Memorial Day weekend. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the teenage girl, identified as Emily Vasquez, had been wakeboarding behind one boat when she fell into the water. As the vessel she was with circled back to retrieve her, a second boat entered the area at high speed and struck her, causing fatal injuries.

Despite immediate attempts to rescue and revive her, Emily was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.

Charges Filed Against Both Boat Operators

This week, authorities announced charges against the two individuals piloting the boats involved:

• Jason Miller, 42, who was operating the boat that struck Emily, is charged with criminally negligent homicide, a state jail felony.

• Ryan Dalton, 37, the pilot of the boat Emily was wakeboarding behind, faces a misdemeanor charge of reckless operation of a vessel for failing to properly signal and secure the area after she fell.

Officials say both men failed to follow key boating safety protocols, including maintaining a safe distance from other vessels and using appropriate flags or signals to alert nearby traffic that a person was in the water.

A Devastated Family Demands Accountability

Emily Vasquez’s family has called for justice and greater awareness around lake safety. “Emily was full of life — she was an honor student and loved wakeboarding,” said her mother, Laura Vasquez, during a vigil held last week. “She should still be with us. This didn’t have to happen.”

Family members are working with local lawmakers to advocate for stricter boating safety education and enforcement on Texas lakes, especially during high-traffic weekends.

Lake Safety Under Scrutiny

The incident has renewed scrutiny over lake safety and the responsibilities of recreational boaters. Under Texas law, boaters are required to:

• Maintain a proper lookout at all times.

• Use an orange “skier down” flag when someone is in the water.

• Operate vessels at safe speeds in high-traffic areas.

• Keep a minimum distance from people in the water or other vessels engaged in towing sports.

Authorities say enforcement is challenging, especially on busy holiday weekends when hundreds of boats are on the water simultaneously.