Jet Skier Narrowly Misses Child at Saguaro Lake

Mother watches in horror as jet ski nearly collides with son on inner tube

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a family enjoying a day on the water, with soft pools of warm light and color creating a dreamlike atmosphere that is suddenly disrupted by the intrusion of a powerful watercraft.A family's tranquil day on the water at Saguaro Lake is shattered by the reckless actions of an inexperienced jet skier, underscoring the need for greater boating safety regulations in Arizona.Mesa Today

A mother in Maricopa, Arizona says her young son could have been seriously injured or killed when a jet skier sped towards him on Saguaro Lake last weekend. The incident occurred as the family was enjoying a day on the water, with the son being pulled on an inner tube behind their boat. The jet skier only narrowly avoided hitting the child after jumping off their watercraft at the last moment.

Why it matters

The close call highlights the dangers that can arise when inexperienced operators use powerful watercraft like jet skis, especially in crowded lake conditions. Arizona is one of the few remaining states that does not require any boating safety training or licensing, which can put families at risk.

The details

Gabrielle Steele said her family was out on Saguaro Lake on Saturday, with her 9-year-old son James being pulled on an inner tube behind their boat. Steele said they had a flag up to alert others that someone was in the water, but a jet skier sped towards them unaware. Steele described the terrifying moment, saying 'My son's going to get hit and we're watching and there's nothing we can do to save him.' Fortunately, the jet skier jumped off at the last second, allowing James to duck and avoid being struck.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday, April 5, 2026 at Saguaro Lake.
  • Temperatures were climbing, leading to a busy weekend on the lake.

The players

Gabrielle Steele

The mother of the child who was nearly struck by the jet skier.

James

Gabrielle Steele's 9-year-old son who was being pulled on an inner tube when the jet skier approached.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that responded to the incident but was unable to locate the jet skier responsible.

Rob Marske

A representative of MCSO's Lake Patrol Division who commented on the lack of boating safety requirements in Arizona.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My son's going to get hit and we're watching and there's nothing we can do to save him. We can't get to him fast enough.”

— Gabrielle Steele, Mother

“It is unfortunate that Arizona is one of the few remaining states in the country that does not have any sort of boating safety class or card requirement.”

— Rob Marske, MCSO Lake Patrol Division

What’s next

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is encouraging all boaters and jet skiers to educate themselves on water safety best practices, which are available for free on the Arizona Game and Fish website. They are also continuing to investigate the incident in an effort to identify the jet skier responsible.

The takeaway

This close call at Saguaro Lake underscores the urgent need for Arizona to implement boating safety requirements, as the lack of licensing or training can put families at serious risk when inexperienced operators use powerful watercraft in crowded conditions. Greater education and regulation could help prevent future tragedies.