PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A New York man is facing serious charges after allegedly causing a jet ski collision in Madeira Beach that injured two juvenile passengers on Saturday afternoon. Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested Daniel Patrick Grubert, 48, following the incident near Johns Pass.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:33 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025. According to investigators from the Marine Unit and the Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), Grubert was operating a rented 2024 Yamaha WaveRunner and was reportedly racing another jet ski.
Authorities allege that Grubert took his eyes off his direction of travel, and when he finally turned back, he realized a crash was imminent and jumped from his WaveRunner. His unmanned jet ski then crashed into a second rented Yamaha WaveRunner, operated by 45-year-old Walter Wodzien.
Wodzien’s jet ski had two juvenile passengers aboard: a 7-year-old and an 8-year-old. All three occupants were ejected into the water upon impact. The Madeira Beach Fire Department recovered all three from the water.
The two children were rushed to a local hospital. One child sustained life-threatening injuries, while the other suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Wodzien was not injured in the collision.
Investigators observed signs of impairment in Grubert, who subsequently performed poorly on Field Sobriety Tests.
Grubert was arrested and charged with two counts of BUI (Boating Under the Influence) Causing Serious Bodily Injury and one count of Reckless Operation of a Vessel. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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