Fatal boating accident in Wilson

At 6:11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a boating accident in Lake Ontario at the rear of 4581 E. Lake Road in the Town of Wilson. NCSO deputies responded, along with members of the Wilson and South Wilson volunteer fire companies, and provided resuscitation aid to a female party injured in the incident. The female was later identified as 32-year-old Ria E. Vannoort of Canfield, Ontario, Canada. Vannoort was subsequently transported by ambulance to Eastern Niagara Lockport Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Initial investigation by deputies at the scene revealed Vannoort, who was attending a party at the residence, was operating a personal watercraft just offshore.

Attendees of the party noticed Vannoort had become dismounted from the watercraft and was floating in the lake. Vannoort was then loaded onto a second vessel and brought back to shore by the other attendees.

The NCSO Criminal Investigation Bureau and Marine Unit is investigating the incident.