MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Becker County authorities are searching for a boat and its owner that were involved in a hit-and-run that left a man seriously injured.

A family was watching the fireworks the night of July 4 on Big Cormorant Lake in Becker County when another boat went up and over their boat.

The Becker County Sheriff’s Office says the boat that was hit had three adults and two children on it. Both kids, ages 4 and 10, sustained minor injuries. The boat operator, 39-year old Terry Erickson, was seriously injured. He was flown to a Twin Cities hospital, but his condition is not known.

Cody Bouchie, boat and water deputy for the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, says people jumped off the boat to get out of the way before the crash. He says witness have told him the boat that was hit was drifting, and did have its lights on.

Bouchie says the offending boat stopped at first, but then took off from the scene before help could arrive. He says lake was searched all day Thursday, but the suspected boat wasn’t found. He says it was likely removed from the water.

That boat is described as a white or cream-colored boat, with a red or maroon stripe down the side. It likely has front-end damage. Witnesses say there was one or possibly two men on the boat, and one woman.

Bouchie says he hopes somebody comes forward.

“I would have a hard time living with myself if I ran into a family with two little kids in the boat and didn’t fess up to it,” Bouchie said.