CONFLUENCE, Pa. — A cabin cruiser exploded and burned Sunday afternoon on Youghiogheny River Lake, sending three people to hospitals.

The boat had just been placed in the water from the boat ramp at Youghiogheny Dam, said Dan Hostetler, assistant chief at Confluence Volunteer Fire Company. Five people were aboard.

“They hit the key to start it and there was an explosion under the deck,” Hostetler said. “It lifted them all up in the air and dropped them back onto the boat.”

With help from bystanders, the occupants came to shore and were in the parking lot when emergency crews arrived.

Three passengers were taken to hospitals for burn injuries, Hostetler said.

Medical helicopters took one patient to Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown and another to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. A third was taken by ambulance to Somerset Hospital.

The state Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the fire.

Randy Griffith is a staff writer for the Johnstown Tribune Democrat.