Posted: Sun, 3 Jul 2016 10:40 PM - 39,133 Readers

By: Mary Huber

In three separate incidents on Saturday, a 2-year-old girl fell into Lake Travis and drowned, 10 people were rescued from the water after a boat collision, and a biplane crashed into the water.

The Travis County sheriff’s office on Sunday urged people to be careful when they are on the water this Fourth of July — wear life vests, avoid drinking when operating boats and watercraft, and be aware of your surroundings.

“Keep an eye on everyone, especially children,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Lisa Block said. “And if you’re swimming in the lake, remember it’s not like a swimming pool. You can’t see what rests beneath the water.”

The plane crashed into the water on Lake Travis about 4 p.m. Saturday. Its engine lost power during a sightseeing tour, and the pilot was forced to land on the water. The plane flipped and sank, Federal Aviation Administration officials said. No one was seriously injured.

At 5:43 p.m., the Travis County sheriff’s office responded to a private boat dock in the 8000 block of Lakeview Street, where a 2-year-old girl had fallen into the water and drowned. The sheriff’s office said bystanders performed CPR until the girl was taken to St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Officials said it was most likely an accidental drowning, but the sheriff’s office was still investigating Sunday and said more details would be released later in the week.

At night Saturday, emergency crews and STAR Flight responded to a two-boat collision on Lake Travis near Hiline Road. They pulled 10 people out of the water, and two women were taken to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens arrested Christopher Riley, 27, and charged him with boating while intoxicated, according to an affidavit obtained Sunday. The game wardens are still investigating the cause of the crash.

*  Story Contributed by: Mary Huber