JET SKIER CRITICALLY HURT IN A COLLISION ALEX BAYLESS OF LEWISTON SUFFERS SERIOUS HEAD INJURY

Two young Lewiston men who were jumping waves on jet skis on the Snake River collided in mid-air Thursday afternoon, critically injuring one man.

Alex Bayless, 18, of Lewiston was listed in critical condition late Thursday night at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center at Lewiston.

Hospital officials declined to elaborate about the nature of Bayless' injuries, but witnesses say he apparently suffered head injuries in the collision.

According to witnesses and Nez Perce County sheriff's deputies, 18-year-old Eric Frensdorf of Lewiston and Bayless were riding jet skis down the Snake River, heading north toward the Interstate Bridge.

At about 12:50 p.m. Thursday, while the pair were jumping the waves of a motorboat, Frensdorf and Bayless struck each other.

''They were jumping the waves and they collided,'' said Ryan Doyle of Lewiston, who was in the motorboat that was directly in front of Frensdorf and Bayless.

Doyle and his companions on the motorboat picked up Bayless and took him to Swallows Park on the Clarkston side of the Snake River.

''We knew there was a phone there,'' Doyle said.

Bayless was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Frensdorf, who made his way to the Lewiston side of the Snake River near Kiwanis Park, said he and Bayless sideswiped each other.

''I don't know how come we didn't see each other coming,'' Frensdorf said.

Frensdorf was transported to St. Joseph following the accident, where he was treated and released.

Bayless is a senior-to-be at Lewiston High School. In 1991 he was named to the second team defensive line for the All North Idaho high school football squad.