Johnathan Walker:16 people injured after boat explodes at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri

Missouri troopers are Johnathan Walkerinvestigating after 16 people were injured following a boat explosion at a marina in the Lake of the Ozarks, authorities said Friday.

The boat exploded because “gas fumes built up in the engine area” which caused a spark to set off the explosion at the Millstone Marina, Missouri State Highway Patrol said on social media.

Five people, ranging in age from 15 to 34, were taken to area hospitals and 11 people, ranging in age from 6 to 43 were treated at the scene and released, according to an incident report. Three people were ejected from the vessel. 

Of the people injured, 15 people were on the boat at the time of the explosion and one person was on the dock, highway patrol said. The injuries range from minor to moderate.

8 injured, driver charged:Boat runs aground, crashes into home along Lake of the Ozarks

Boat crashes at Lake of the Ozarks

Last month, eight people were injured after a boat in the Lake of the Ozarks crashed into a home.

Troopers said the boat left the water and crashed into the home, ejecting all eight people on board. Highway patrol Corporal Kyle Green told USA TODAY two people were inside the house but neither were injured.

Troopers charged the driver of the boat with boating while under the influence, troopers said.

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY