Bullhead City woman dies after Colorado River boating accident

LAUGHLIN — A former Bullhead City school teacher was killed in a personal watercraft accident on the Colorado River near Laughlin Thursday. Fort Mojave Tribal Police responded at 2:52 p.m. to the call for service south of the Veterans Bridge near the Avi Resort.

Interim Tribal Police Chief Sonny O’Hara said surveillance video from the casino showed Erin Ballard, 29, of Bullhead City, was riding alone on a personal watercraft when it hit a bridge pillar. She was unresponsive when pulled from the water and was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m. at Sunrise Hospital.

O’Hara said the accident remains under investigation, though impairment is not suspected.

Ballard had worked for the Bullhead City Elementary School District for three years, and had recently resigned her 5th grade position at Coyote Canyon School to move closer to family in California, said district spokesman Lance Ross.