La Grange, CA…On Saturday around 11:30 PM, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible boating accident just North of the Fleming Meadows boat ramp on Lake Don Pedro in La Grange. The reporting person had seen two flares discharged over the water from Fleming Campground.

Sheriff’s Deputies along with the Boat Patrol Unit arrived on scene and determined 55-year-old Waid Lababibi of Santa Clara was operating his vessel during the hours of darkness on Lake Don Pedro. Lababibi crashed into the South face of Rock Island. Lababibi’s wife, 45-year-old Shukran Badawi, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. Lababibi was transported to a Modesto hospital for minor injuries and was later released. No alcohol, drugs, or gross negligence is suspected based on the investigation. It is believed the main factor of the accident was operator error due to inexperience.

We do urge while you are on the Lake for recreation, that you use extreme caution when operating your vessel during times of darkness, especially if you do not have a high level of operator experience. Always travel at a low rate of speed and use an additional person as a lookout. Traveling at a slower speed gives you additional reaction time especially when you are unsure of your surroundings.

Although spot lights can be used, it is sometimes still difficult to navigate obstacles due to the reflection off the water. If you are using your GPS during dark hours, ensure that your navigation system reflects the actual geography of the area. It is also recommended that signal devices such as flares, whistles, and air horns are carried aboard the vessel to be used for summoning help as it was used in this case.

We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Shukran Badawi