GEORGE — A 12-year-old western Washington male was seriously injured Saturday morning when the personal watercraft he was operating collided with a ski boat on the Columbia River near the Sunland community in Grant County, according to Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 10:30 a.m., the boy steered into the path of a 1980 AGC Runabout ski boat operated by 42-year-old Bow resident Alex Englund, according to law enforcement. The two vessels collided, and the boy went under the boat, where he was struck by the propeller, causing serious injuries.

The youth was taken by helicopter to Confluence Health in Wenatchee and later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was considered in stable condition on Saturday, according to law enforcement.

A passenger on the personal watercraft, another 12-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Englund was not injured.

Deputies did not find any indication that anyone involved in the incident was impaired. The incident is still under investigation, though authorities indicated that user inexperience contributed to the accident.

Washington state law requires an operator to be at least 14 years old to operate a personal watercraft, according to law enforcement.