Personal Watercraft

An 8-year-old boy and his mother were taken to different hospitals Sunday with nonlife-threatening injuries after the personal watercraft on which they were riding went over Dam No. 5 on the Potomac River, Clear Spring Fire Sgt. Cody Hunter said. The incident was reported around 3:10 p.m. at Dam No. 5 south of Clear Spring, according to Washington County Emergency Services. Despite signs in the area warning people of the dam, the 28-year-old Germantown, Md., woman — who was operating the watercraft — was unfamiliar with the structure, Sgt. Brian Albert of the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Ryan A. Myers figures he fell about 20 feet Monday night when he went over Dam 5 on the Potomac River. Myers, 22, of Clear Spring, said he got too close to the dam while riding a motorized personal watercraft. As the watercraft fell, he jumped off, he said. When he landed, he was conscious and felt OK, he said. His watercraft was near him, and he got on it and rode to shore, he said. Then, he walked barefoot two miles back to Four Locks, where he and his friend entered the water earlier on separate watercraft.

Feeling adventurous for Labor Day weekend? Or perhaps you want to take in a good concert or check out personal watercraft stunts? Enjoy the unofficial end of summer with a holiday weekend road trip. Here are some Labor Day weekend events for your family to consider: Get rolling at Cedar Point Check out Maverick, the newest roller coaster at Cedar Point on a Lake Erie peninsula in Sandusky, Ohio. Maverick opened in May with 4,450 feet of track, a 100-foot vertical drop, two 360-degree corkscrew rolls, a 400-foot-long tunnel and two launch areas with a top speed of approximately 70 mph. Cedar Point claims to be home to more roller coasters, 17, than any other park in the world.

Pa. couple hurt in I-81 accident MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Johnstown, Pa., couple was injured Thursday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Interstate 81, West Virginia State Police said. Sgt. W.D. Walker said the accident happened at 9:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes near Exit 12. A 1993 Mercury Marquis driven by Lloyd F. Bowers, 79, ran off the right side of the road, went up an embankment and struck a group of small trees, he said. Bowers and his wife Esther, 79, were treated at City Hospital in Martinsburg and released, Walker said.

I visited Children's Village of Washington County a few weeks ago with a classroom full of second-graders. We learned about safety at home, on the street and around water. I say WE learned because it's true. In one of the sessions, Ranger Russell J. Boback with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources talked about life jackets. He said he had a question for a parent and looked in my direction. While holding up a life jacket, he asked if I thought that life jacket would keep my child's face up if an accident would occur on the water.

CLEAR SPRING -- Two personal watercraft riders collided on the Potomac River on Saturday night in the Four Locks area, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police spokesman Sgt. Brian Albert. The two riders were traveling up the river about 7:15 p.m. The rider traveling in front moved his watercraft to the left and the other watercraft collided with it, Albert said. The driver of the watercraft that was struck, Russell Burgess, 36, of Hagerstown, suffered a compound fracture to the ankle and was transported to Washington County Hospital, Albert said.

As pools open this Memorial Day weekend, the Washington County Health Department wants to ensure that the public understands the importance of water safety.The department provided the following tips for those venturing out on the waters this summer: n Do not leave a child alone in or around water in the home. Empty water containers and place them out of the reach of children. Do not leave a child alone at a pool or spa - not even for a minute. Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and keep rescue equipment and emergency phone numbers by the pool.

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) - Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson was released from jail on Tuesday after being held for a week while police investigated allegations he punched a judge on a beach in Aruba. Ponson appeared before a judge on Tuesday and prosecutors said they would not oppose his release as he awaits trial, the daily La Prensa reported. The 28-year-old right-hander faces charges of public violence and simple aggression. No trial date has been set. Under Aruba law, a suspect can be detained for up to eight days without bail while police investigate a crime.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Ridersville Cycle has been honored by Polaris Industries for its dedication to recreational vehicle enthusiasts. The business has been selling recreational vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, since the 1980s and is one of the top five Polaris dealerships in the country. Harold and Dawn Unger, owners of Ridersville Cycle, attended a ceremony in Las Vegas last July when their company was inducted into the 2008 Polaris Hall of Fame.

DARGAN - As 16-year-old Chad Ault cruised back to land on his personal watercraft Tuesday afternoon, his uncle, Glenn Ault, warned him to watch out for a big rock in the water. But it wasn't a rock. It was a submerged car. "We were right on top of it," said Chad, of Brunswick, Md. The car was under about 10 feet of water at the Dargan Bend boat launch along the C&O Canal and Potomac River in southern Washington County. Chad's friend, Tommy Harder of West Virginia, ducked under the water to see if anyone was in the car. Glenn Ault called 911 for help.