Topline: A jet ski driver faces two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir and search crews shifted to recovery.
Published: September 18, 2026 11:34 am ET
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Photo courtesy Brian Schnee / Facebook
HURRICANE, UT — A 23-year-old jet ski driver has been arrested on two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir on Tuesday, prompting a search that became a recovery operation.
Antonio Omari Lewis was booked into the Washington County Jail and was being held on bail, according to ABC4’s report, which cited an arrest statement. Investigators alleged that he had been drinking and that none of the three people aboard wore life jackets. Officers were also told one of the missing women was pregnant with twins.
Utah Department of Natural Resources rangers received a report of a possible drowning in the park’s South Beach area around 4:21 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. They learned that a jet ski carrying three people and a dog had encountered a wave, throwing its occupants into the water.
Lewis told rangers the two women had asked him to go faster. He said he made a sharp turn before a wave struck the watercraft, and that he held onto one woman as long as he could before releasing her to keep himself above water, according to the arrest statement.
A witness heard calls for help and took his own jet ski out to assist. He found Lewis’s watercraft without its key, pulled Lewis from the water and brought him ashore before searching for the women. The witness identified where they had gone under but could not find them. The dog was also rescued and cared for by witnesses on shore.
An investigator reported signs of impairment, including an odor of alcohol. Lewis initially acknowledged drinking but would not identify the type or amount, according to the report. Witnesses said he had consumed vodka and tequila throughout the day. Investigators said a sobriety test indicated impairment, and a blood sample was collected for testing. During a later interview with a Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent, Lewis allegedly acknowledged taking multiple shots of tequila before the incident.
A witness told investigators Lewis had refused to wear a life jacket because he worked as a lifeguard and thought wearing one would make him look foolish. The witness said that refusal had led to Lewis being denied a jet ski rental earlier that day. Lewis was not an authorized operator on the rental contract for the watercraft involved in the incident, ABC4 reported.
Investigators obtained cellphone video showing Lewis operating the jet ski with two passengers, all without life jackets. They also received a photograph taken after the incident in an effort to locate the women. Witnesses reported that, after reaching shore, Lewis said the women were dead and expressed a wish to die himself.
The reported charges include two second-degree felony counts of automobile homicide; two Class C misdemeanor counts involving failure to wear a personal flotation device; two additional misdemeanors involving wakeless-speed rules and waterway markers; and three infractions involving watercraft and life-jacket violations.
Rangers used sonar, drones and aircraft during the search. The arrest statement described approximately 90 minutes of searching before a transition to recovery around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, although those times do not align precisely with the reported 4:21 p.m. notification.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said its dive team searched without success until about 10 p.m. Tuesday and resumed at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The office asked the public to avoid the search area so emergency personnel and divers could work, and offered condolences to those affected.
ABC4’s Wednesday report did not identify the women, report their recovery or provide results from Lewis’s blood test.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Jet Ski Driver Arrested for Homicide as Two Women Remain Missing at Sand Hollow
A jet ski driver faces two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir and search crews shifted to recovery.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: September 18, 2026 11:34 am ET
Photo courtesy Brian Schnee / Facebook
HURRICANE, UT — A 23-year-old jet ski driver has been arrested on two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir on Tuesday, prompting a search that became a recovery operation.
Antonio Omari Lewis was booked into the Washington County Jail and was being held on bail, according to ABC4’s report, which cited an arrest statement. Investigators alleged that he had been drinking and that none of the three people aboard wore life jackets. Officers were also told one of the missing women was pregnant with twins.
Utah Department of Natural Resources rangers received a report of a possible drowning in the park’s South Beach area around 4:21 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. They learned that a jet ski carrying three people and a dog had encountered a wave, throwing its occupants into the water.
Lewis told rangers the two women had asked him to go faster. He said he made a sharp turn before a wave struck the watercraft, and that he held onto one woman as long as he could before releasing her to keep himself above water, according to the arrest statement.
A witness heard calls for help and took his own jet ski out to assist. He found Lewis’s watercraft without its key, pulled Lewis from the water and brought him ashore before searching for the women. The witness identified where they had gone under but could not find them. The dog was also rescued and cared for by witnesses on shore.
An investigator reported signs of impairment, including an odor of alcohol. Lewis initially acknowledged drinking but would not identify the type or amount, according to the report. Witnesses said he had consumed vodka and tequila throughout the day. Investigators said a sobriety test indicated impairment, and a blood sample was collected for testing. During a later interview with a Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent, Lewis allegedly acknowledged taking multiple shots of tequila before the incident.
A witness told investigators Lewis had refused to wear a life jacket because he worked as a lifeguard and thought wearing one would make him look foolish. The witness said that refusal had led to Lewis being denied a jet ski rental earlier that day. Lewis was not an authorized operator on the rental contract for the watercraft involved in the incident, ABC4 reported.
Investigators obtained cellphone video showing Lewis operating the jet ski with two passengers, all without life jackets. They also received a photograph taken after the incident in an effort to locate the women. Witnesses reported that, after reaching shore, Lewis said the women were dead and expressed a wish to die himself.
The reported charges include two second-degree felony counts of automobile homicide; two Class C misdemeanor counts involving failure to wear a personal flotation device; two additional misdemeanors involving wakeless-speed rules and waterway markers; and three infractions involving watercraft and life-jacket violations.
Rangers used sonar, drones and aircraft during the search. The arrest statement described approximately 90 minutes of searching before a transition to recovery around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, although those times do not align precisely with the reported 4:21 p.m. notification.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said its dive team searched without success until about 10 p.m. Tuesday and resumed at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The office asked the public to avoid the search area so emergency personnel and divers could work, and offered condolences to those affected.
ABC4’s Wednesday report did not identify the women, report their recovery or provide results from Lewis’s blood test.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Jet Ski Driver Arrested for Homicide as Two Women Remain Missing at Sand Hollow
A jet ski driver faces two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir and search crews shifted to recovery.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: September 18, 2026 11:34 am ET
Photo courtesy Brian Schnee / Facebook
HURRICANE, UT — A 23-year-old jet ski driver has been arrested on two automobile homicide counts after two women disappeared beneath Sand Hollow Reservoir on Tuesday, prompting a search that became a recovery operation.
Antonio Omari Lewis was booked into the Washington County Jail and was being held on bail, according to ABC4’s report, which cited an arrest statement. Investigators alleged that he had been drinking and that none of the three people aboard wore life jackets. Officers were also told one of the missing women was pregnant with twins.
Utah Department of Natural Resources rangers received a report of a possible drowning in the park’s South Beach area around 4:21 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. They learned that a jet ski carrying three people and a dog had encountered a wave, throwing its occupants into the water.
Lewis told rangers the two women had asked him to go faster. He said he made a sharp turn before a wave struck the watercraft, and that he held onto one woman as long as he could before releasing her to keep himself above water, according to the arrest statement.
A witness heard calls for help and took his own jet ski out to assist. He found Lewis’s watercraft without its key, pulled Lewis from the water and brought him ashore before searching for the women. The witness identified where they had gone under but could not find them. The dog was also rescued and cared for by witnesses on shore.
An investigator reported signs of impairment, including an odor of alcohol. Lewis initially acknowledged drinking but would not identify the type or amount, according to the report. Witnesses said he had consumed vodka and tequila throughout the day. Investigators said a sobriety test indicated impairment, and a blood sample was collected for testing. During a later interview with a Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent, Lewis allegedly acknowledged taking multiple shots of tequila before the incident.
A witness told investigators Lewis had refused to wear a life jacket because he worked as a lifeguard and thought wearing one would make him look foolish. The witness said that refusal had led to Lewis being denied a jet ski rental earlier that day. Lewis was not an authorized operator on the rental contract for the watercraft involved in the incident, ABC4 reported.
Investigators obtained cellphone video showing Lewis operating the jet ski with two passengers, all without life jackets. They also received a photograph taken after the incident in an effort to locate the women. Witnesses reported that, after reaching shore, Lewis said the women were dead and expressed a wish to die himself.
The reported charges include two second-degree felony counts of automobile homicide; two Class C misdemeanor counts involving failure to wear a personal flotation device; two additional misdemeanors involving wakeless-speed rules and waterway markers; and three infractions involving watercraft and life-jacket violations.
Rangers used sonar, drones and aircraft during the search. The arrest statement described approximately 90 minutes of searching before a transition to recovery around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, although those times do not align precisely with the reported 4:21 p.m. notification.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said its dive team searched without success until about 10 p.m. Tuesday and resumed at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The office asked the public to avoid the search area so emergency personnel and divers could work, and offered condolences to those affected.
ABC4’s Wednesday report did not identify the women, report their recovery or provide results from Lewis’s blood test.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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