An afternoon that seemed destined for a peaceful boat trip turned into tragedy this Friday in Puerto Vallarta, after a boat carrying foreign women collided with a whale.
The tragic accident resulted in the death of a 70-year-old American woman and resident of Puerto Vallarta who was traveling on the vessel. The incident was reported at 3:40 p.m. on December 5, 2025.
The exact location of the accident was in the Olas Altas Beach area, a few meters from the statue known as La Lavandera (The Washerwoman). Following the report, members of the Puerto Vallarta Municipal Civil Protection and Fire Department responded immediately to the emergency call.
Jorge Misael López Muro, director of the Puerto Vallarta Fire Department, confirmed the details of the collision.
“The boat was on its normal route when a whale struck it. The boat itself was fine, but upon impact, an elderly person on board suffered a traumatic injury, and unfortunately, that was a fatal accident,” stated Jorge Misael López Muro, municipal director of Civil Protection in Puerto Vallarta.
How did the whale collision in Puerto Vallarta occur?
The director indicated that the boat was following its usual route when it was surprised by the cetacean. The impact was direct, causing the whale to strike the boat.
Although the boat was undamaged after the initial contact, the impact caused a fatal injury to an elderly person on board. The victim was a woman of American nationality.
While López Muro declined to provide personal information about the deceased woman, unofficial sources revealed that she has been identified as Linda Hite, a resident of the Villas del Palmar subdivision.
The impact reportedly caused a neck fracture, resulting in Linda’s instant death.
The vessel involved did not sustain significant structural damage, although it has not been specified how many people were on board at the time of the accident.
The Fire Chief explained that, apparently, the impact was not very severe for the whale, as they are very large and strong animals.
“They are very large, very strong animals, and I think it was just the impact; it wasn’t very severe, but the vessel, well, obviously it’s not a very large vessel, and having this type of impact… The person was injured, and unfortunately, we had an accident,” the chief stated.
Regarding the whale involved, the commander indicated that no visible damage was reported to the cetacean. In addition to the deceased victim, at least two other tourists were treated by paramedics and lifeguards at the scene.
Among the injured was another foreign woman, Lari, 55, who suffered a head injury, although her relationship to the deceased is still unknown.
Lari received medical attention from paramedics and is reported to be in stable condition. It is believed that they were the only two women on board the boat.
The tourist’s death has prompted an investigation by the Jalisco Attorney General’s Office.
Source: telediario
