Man arrested for jet ski collision that left 16-year-old girl missing

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — A man has been arrested in connection to the incident that left a 16-year-old girl missing on the Merrimack River, according to police.

The girl went missing Sunday night after two jet-skis collided and a search was immediately launched.

The man, who was in the hospital recovering from injuries Monday morning, has been charged with operating a personal watercraft under the influence, operating at night, operating recklessly, operating too close to another vessel and without a light.

Douglas Dematos, 31, from Lowell will be held in the hospital overnight, police said. Police added the people who were on the jet skis Sunday evening may have know each other, but were not certain.

The Chelmsford fire chief told the Lowell Sun that they received a 911 call around 10 p.m. Sunday reporting two jet skis that had collided on the river, throwing the girl into the water.

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Chelmsford search and rescue boats were assisted by Lowell and Tyngsboro crews who search both banks of the river Sunday night.

A Massachusetts State Police helicopter also assisted with the search.

The search was suspended around 3 a.m., and officials resumed the search a few hours later.

As of Monday morning, three boats had been launched into the river to help search for the girl.

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