# ReleasableAccidentes

BARDID: IN-2020-0050
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2020-07-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Ohio River
NearestCityorTown: Jeffersonville
County: Clark
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On july 26, 2020 at approximately 1430 hours, i was notified that a vessel was on fire near the i-65 bridge on the ohio river. Indiana conservation officer and myself responded to the incident from charlestown boat ramp. We arrived on scene at approximately 1441 hours. 

	once we arrived on scene, jeffersonville fire department and louisville fire rescue boats were both on scene extinguishing the flames. The boat had black and white rolling smoke emerging from the vessel with small noticeable flames coming from the bow and stern of the vessel. I was notified that all 5 occupants of the watercraft were safe and on another watercraft. I was advised there were no injuries.
 
	i made contact with the vessel, indiana watercraft registration number, and the owner/operator. This vessel had rescued the 5 individuals out of the water that were on the watercraft that got engulfed in flames. I asked owner if he could transport the individuals to duffy's landing docks that were just upriver from the incident. Owner agreed to transport. 

	i spoke with the driver/owner of the boat that was engulfed in flames. I asked owner to walk me through what happened. He said his boat, was a 2001 crownline 23' in-board/out-board motor. He bought the boat in june of this year. He stated he had taken the boat out roughly 10 times, with this being the tenth time. He said he has never had any problems with it prior to today. Owner said he purchased the boat. He stated that he did not know when the last service was done on the boat, however he believes the previous owner did change the oil prior to him purchasing it. 

Owner stated that he was aware of what the blower was, and he stated he had it on that day. He said he turned the blower off roughly one minute prior seeing the smoke emerge from the vessel. He stated he then turned the blower back on after seeing the smoke. Owner was not familiar with what the backfire flame arrestor is, and therefore wasn't aware if it was properly functioning. I asked him to describe what he seen and smelt just prior to the boat catching on fire. He stated he smelt burnt plastic and noticed white smoke coming from under the driver's seat. He said they had just put on the river at duffy's landing and started driving downriver. They were only out for roughly 20 minutes. He stated they had just refilled the gas today and had roughly three-quarter tank. He stated there was also smoke coming the engine compartment. At this time, all five subjects threw lifejackets into the water and jumped in away from the boat. He stated another boat drove up and picked them up.

	 
	i asked the driver if they had consumed any alcohol today and he stated he had one beer. He said there was a whole pack in the cooler that was on the boat. 
	photos were taken of the boat and the hull identification number. Louisville fire rescue and jeffersonville fire transported the boat to the closest dock on the kentucky side. They tied to boat to the dock and beached it in the shallow waters near the dock.


BARDID: IN-2020-0051
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-08 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:06:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Wawasee
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentEvent3: Person struck by propeller
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Subject was pulling two tubes with three individuals on them. All three were thrown into the water and as he tried to pick up the individuals he ran over victim with the boat. Victim was put on the back of the boat and transported to shore. Victim was not able to survive his injuries. Victim was wearing a pfd at the time of the accident.


BARDID: IN-2020-0052
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-08 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Brookville
County: Franklin
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Other
AccidentCause2: Machinery failure
OtherAccidentCause: Passenger/skier behavior
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On saturday, august 8, 2020, at approximately 3:41 pm, i, indiana conservation officer, overheard union county sheriff's department communications dispatch an injured subject at kent's harbor marina in union county.  They advised that a female had cut off the tip of her finger and thought she was going into shock.

I arrived on scene at approximately 3:52 pm.  I was notified that the subject was inside the floating store at the gas dock.  I responded there and observed a female subject, sitting down behind the counter.  She had a large towel wrapped around her left hand. 

Victim advised her left index finger had been cut through near the first knuckle but was still attached.  I advised that ems was en route and it would be best not to unwrap the towel at this point.  She stated she did not want to remove the towel from her finger and could continue applying pressure.

I then asked them what had happened.  They stated they had been out on their boat (ohio registration) on brookville reservoir and had attempted to help a friend with a “stalled out” boat.  They stated they had approached the other boat in attempt to help get their boat running again.  They stated that victim was in the front of their boat with her right hand on v2's boat and her left hand on the gunwale of their boat.  They stated that a wake raised bow (front) of v2's boat and it came down on her left index finger.  

Operator1 later stated that they had approached v2's boat and at the time of the accident, his boat was in neutral as they were trying to tie both boats together.  He stated during the process of trying to tie both boats together, the bow of each boat had been tied, however, the sterns were separated, forming a “v” shape (with the bows being close).  He stated that victim had her hands on each boat, with her right hand being on v2's boat and her left hand on theirs.  He stated a big wake had hit v2's boat, causing the bow to raise up, and when it came down, it landed on victim's finger.  Operator1 stated that their approximate location was north of the fairfield causeway towards the eastern side of the lake (east from fairfield marina).  

Ems arrived on scene and began the process of transporting victim to the hospital.  I obtained contact information and observed operator1's boat, which was tied up at the gas dock.  

He also showed me the location of impact on the gunwale where her left hand had been.  Approximately 8 inches from the centerline on the port (left) side, i observed a gouge in the gel coat and fiberglass.  There was a small amount of green transfer on the white gel coat on the top side of the gouge, along with what appeared to be blood still on the boat.  There was a small crack in the gel coat leading towards the stern from the larger gouge to a smaller gouge in the gel coat.  

Spirit ems then transferred victim winters to mccullough-hyde hospital in oxford, ohio.  

On sunday, august 9, 2020, i made contact with v2 a. V2 via cell phone.  V2 was the owner of the other boat involved in the incident.  According to v2, his boat had stalled and he could not get the boat restarted.  He stated he knew operator1 winter and that operator1 was good with engines, so he contacted him for help.  He stated operator1 had told them he would come to their location to help.  He stated that when their boat arrived, they had begun the process of tying both boats together.  He stated both boats where in neutral and he believed a line had been connected at the bow of the boats.  He stated victim winter was at the front of operator1's boat and was trying to keep both boats from hitting each other due to the wake hitting their boats.  He stated that the bow of his boat had raised up and then came down on victim's hand and operator1's boat.  V2 advised that after the impact, operator1 took victim to the gas dock and his boat started approximately five minutes later.  

V2 stated there was no damage to his boat (ohio registration).  I asked for photographs and registration information.  V2 sent me a picture of the boat registration and stated again that there was no damage to his boat and “you can't even tell that it bumped into their boat.”  He stated his boat was white with a green stripe.  

On thursday, august 13, 2020, i spoke with operator1 via cell phone to check on the status of victim.  He stated she had to have the tip of her left index finger amputated.  He then sent me photographs of the finger.


BARDID: IN-2020-0054
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:47:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Patoka Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Celestine
County: Dubois
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Electrical
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of investigation:

August 19th 2020

On wednesday august 19th 2020 i responded to a boat fire at hoosier hills marina in dubois county.  While on the way i spoke with the assistant property manager at patoka lake.  Manager advised the boat fire took place at the c dock.

Manager was talking to the boat owner while i was on the phone with him.  When i advised manager i was about fifteen minutes away he informed me owner had left.  According to manager he thought he was possibly going to the bathroom, but instead left the property.  

When i arrived at the marina i met with manager and the marina owner.  The boat was located in an access parking lot south of the marina on a boat trailer.  The boat was a red and silver 2017 bennington pontoon boat that was 19 feet in length.   The boat trailer was a black 2017 trailer with an indiana registration plate. 

I went to where the boat was moored when it caught fire. There did not appear to be any damage to neighboring boats or to the dock.  Remnants of  the suppressant chemical from the fire extinguishers was noted at the end of the narrow walkway that would have ran along the south end of the slip. 

I spoke with subject who was on board a boat next to owners boat when it caught fire.  He advised his wife pointed out that there was smoke coming from the boat next to them.  He saw marina owner and yelled at him advising him of the situation.  According to subject, owner was not in the boat for longer than ten minutes.  He advised he uncovered the back of the boat, started the motor up, shut it off, covered it back up and left.  Subject advised it was less than ten minutes after owner left that they noticed smoke coming from the boat.
 
After leaving the dock i went with manager and marina owner to the parking lot where the boat was trailered and took pictures.  In front of the motor was a storage compartment that housed three batteries. This was the location of the fire.  It appeared looking at the batteries the port side battery had the most damage and had melted through the wall to the seat.  This was the only location in the compartment where that occurred.  You could also see on the outside of the boat where the paint had burned from red to black and from black to silver in the location of port side battery,  indicating the location of the most intense heat.  This was also the only location on the outside of the boat where this happened. 

The battery closest to the starboard side of the boat was a deka marine master with a part number of 24m5 and listed to have 675 cranking amps.  The center battery had a covering on the lower half and was manufactured by carquest.  It had a part number of 31hd5300 and listed to have 1250 cranking amps.  The battery on the port side of the boat was a  die hard battery with a part number of 24dc1 and listed to have 685 cranking amps. The carquest battery was the only battery that still had a battery cable attached to a terminal.  This would have been the positive side of the battery. 

Marina owner provided me with pictures that were taken immediately after the fire was put out.  In the pictures you could see a metal danforth type anchor that was sitting on top of the batteries.  It did not appear in the picture however it would have been able to reach the port side battery.  

Marina owner then advised me the fire extinguishers used to put out the fire were sitting outside the shop door.  I found three class b marine type size two extinguishers.  One of them still had some chemical and weight to it, the other two appeared to be empty.  The serial numbers of the fire extinguishers were f-930213, xu-25714 and ce-686063.  They were listed as an ambrex b456 model with 10 lbs of dry chemical (ammonum phosphate).  

August 23rd 2020

On august 23rd 2020 i drove to the home of owner and spoke with a family member who was letting their dog out.  I advised her that i had called owner several times and left multiple voice mails for him to call me back.  Owner had not returned any of my calls at this time.  I gave her a business card and asked her if she would have him call me. 

A few hours later i received a phone call from owner.  According to owner he was delivering a spare battery to the boat and put it into the storage hatch with the other two batteries.  He described lifting the cover to the storage up about twenty five percent of the way and putting the battery in. Owner noticed the prop was in the water so he flipped the battery control switch from off to number one, started the motor for about fifteen seconds, trimmed the motor out of the water and turned the boat off.  He believes he was there for only about five minutes before leaving.  

Owner did not know of anyone else operating the boat between the time it was worked on by the marina and the short time he was there.  I told owner it looked as though there was a metal anchor that was sitting on top of the batteries.  He advised that anchor is stored in that area many times, but did not have a recollection of handling or moving the anchor.  He advised he just remembered "sliding and cramming the battery into that storage area". He later speculated "maybe when i kind of like slid the battery in there, there is a big spool of rope there, that we use for that anchor and i dont know, maybe i had the anchor sitting on top of that rope and i, you know, when i crammed the battery in there i didn't take any caution in looking at it after i did it."  owner advised he owns the boat with his neighbor and it is under the llc.

I do not believe the battery owner put into the storage area was the battery that started the fire.  It was apparent the most damage and intense heat came from the port side battery in the storage container.  There are no criminal charges pending at this time.


BARDID: IN-2020-0056
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:23:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Mississinewa Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Wabash
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Other
OtherAccidentCause: Unseen water hazard
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Driver 1 was operating in the mississinewa reservoir in the area of goose creek.  Driver 1 was towing three occupants on a tube at the time of the crash, and was in the process of turning the boat around when the crash occurred. 

 Driver 1 struck an unknown object that was submerged, which caused the boat to begin to rapidly sink on the port side.  The occupants of the boat, along with other nearby boaters, were able to get the boat to shore in the area, and tie the boat to a tree.  

The occupants of the boat were then transported by another boater to the miami sra boat ramp.  The owners of the boat contacted their insurance to see about getting it towed, but no towing service was available to respond.  Ico's then arranged for an airbag system to be used to get the boat to red bridge ramp so it could be loaded onto the trailer.  The boat was successfully transported to red bridge, where it was loaded onto the trailer without incident.  

Once on the trailer it was noted that the port side pontoon was severely damaged.  The welded disc on the rear of the pontoon had broken off during impact.  A large dent on the inside of the port side pontoon was observed, which appeared to have caused the weld to fail on the rear of the pontoon.


BARDID: IN-2020-0057
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-23 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 00:01:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Hamilton Lake
NearestCityorTown: Hamilton
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:  on 08-23-2020 at approximately 8:14 am subject1 called steuben county communications and reported that they were missing a person.  Subject1 stated that this person fell off the boat in hamilton lake around 2:00 am and they have not been able to find him.  The missing person was identified as victim.  On 08-23-2020 steuben county communications received a call advising that a body was found floating in hamilton lake.  The body was located and identified as victim.      
 
Details of investigation/incident:  on 08-23-2020 at approximately 8:14 am subject1 called steuben county communications and reported that they were missing a juvenile that had fallen off the boat at 2:00 am and they have not been able to find him.  Subject1 stated this occurred on the west side of hamilton lake near the big woods.  

     i arrived at the residence and spoke with steuben county deputy.  Deputy1 advised me that there were four people in the boat last night and one of them is missing.  Deputy1 stated the missing person was identified as victim, age 18.  She advised the other three people in the boat were two 17-year olds and one 14-year old.  She stated Subject2 was the operator and the boat belonged to his parents, subject1 and Subject3.  The address we were at is owned by Subject3's family.  

Deputy1 stated to me that she spoke with the three juveniles and they stated that they lost him about 12:00 am and not at 2:00 am as reported.  She stated they told her that he stood up on the back of the boat to pee and that was the last time they seen him.  

She stated they told her that they had loud music playing and never heard him fall in the water.  Deputy1 stated they told her that the boat was going about 2 mph.  She stated they told her that they looked for victim until about 3:00 am and then they came into the residence because they were out of gasoline in the boat.  

Deputy1 stated they told her that they could not sleep and they then went out on the personal watercraft(pwc) to look for him between 7:00 am and 7:30 am.  Deputy1 stated they told her they came back in from the lake after 8:00 am and then told Subject2's parents what had happened.  Subject2's mother then immediately called steuben county communications.  

Deputy1 stated to me that they told her that they have not been on the boat since 3:00 am because it was out of gasoline.  Deputy1 stated to me that they told her that they had not been drinking any alcohol.

     the motorboat was a blue and white 2006 supra launch with ohio registration.  
     ico cpl. spoke with Subject3 and obtained his permission to administer a portable breath test to Subject2.  CPL administered this to Subject2 at approximately 9:30 am and the result for alcohol was negative at 0.00% bac.

     at approximately 9:37 am i spoke with Subject3, who is the father of Subject2.  I asked Subject3 if he would talk to me and answer my questions and he said yes.  I informed him that i would like to get the details of the events last night so we could locate victim as quickly as possible.  Subject3 stated to me that he would help in any way possible and stated that we could also look at whatever we needed to look at. 

 Subject3 stated to me that the house and boat belonged to his family and the house owner was listed as lake for fun llc.  He stated he thought the boat was registered in that name also but was not sure.  He stated the registration was in the boat.  

Subject3 stated to me that two people and victim came to the residence last night about 7:00 pm-8:00 pm with Subject2.  Subject3 stated to me that they came in Subject2's truck and he pointed to it in the drivewaySubject3 stated to me that they were at a friend's house last night playing games.  Subject3 stated that he, his wife, his other son, and his son's friend all went to his friend's house by vehicle and they all came back in the vehicle.  Subject3 stated that the four older kids were on the lake in the boat and they came over to the friend's house by boat.  

  Subject3 stated that when he left his friend's house his boat was still tied to the dock.  Subject3 stated the kids were still playing games.  Subject3 stated to me that he never talked to the kids from when he left Subject4's house until this morning.  Subject3 stated he talked to the kids when his wife called dispatch.  Subject3 stated to me that he did see Subject2 and subject5 take out the pwc this morning.  Subject3 stated to me that Subject2 told his mother, subject1, what had happened when he returned on the pwc.  

He stated that she immediately called dispatch when Subject2 told her.  Subject3 stated to me that the boats and house were all looked in and victim was not in any of them.  Subject3 also stated that victim's best friend committed suicide about one year ago.  Subject3 stated that this friend was the brother of subject5 and subject6. 

Subject2 stated to me that victim got up to pee and was standing on the swim platform.  Subject2 stated to me that victim did this when they were about in the middle of the ski slalom course.  Subject2 stated to me that the boat was about 5-10 feet on the lakeside of the slalom buoys.  Subject2 stated to me that he was operating the boat and subject6 and subject5 were sitting in the passenger seat together beside him.  

Subject2 stated to me that he remembers operating the boat towards clark's landing.  Subject2 stated he was going about 2 mph and he went about 100 feet before he knew victim was gone.  Subject2 stated to me that he was the one that looked back first and noticed that victim was gone.  

Subject2 stated to me that victim had been sitting on the bench seat on the transom before he got up to pee.  Subject2 stated to me that it was probably about one minute before he looked back to check on victim.  Subject2 stated he was not sure on the time frame but it would be the normal time that you would give someone to pee without looking at them.  

Subject2 stated to me that victim was not wearing a personal flotation device(pfd).  Subject2 stated that they did have pfds in the boat.  Subject2 stated to me that victim seemed normal and happy.  Subject2 stated that victim did make a few comments about having to work a lot but it was just about having to work 12 hour days.  Subject2 stated to me that victim did not seem depressed.  Subject2 stated to me that there was no alcohol involved.  Victim had a .101 BAC.


BARDID: IN-2020-0058
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-23 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 10:48:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Wawasee
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Shift
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
August 23rd, 2020 at 1048 hours
I, indiana conservation officer (ico), was advised by ico central dispatch of a boat crash which occurred on lake wawasee in kosciusko county.  I responded to the scene.  I spoke with subjects at the scene and was informed a subject named operator1 was on an old correct craft boat and crashed into their 2008 jc pontoon which was on a shore station boat lift.  

I observed significant damage to the midsection of the motor, just above the lower unit.  The motor is a 150 hp mercury outboard motor.  I photographed the damage.  I observed minor scuffs on the pier and no damage to the shore station.  I was informed operator1 exchanged information with them and left the scene.  I collected operator1's information and planned to meet with him at a later time.

(august 24th, 2020 at 1111 hours)
On this day i met with operator1 at his residence.  Operator1 informed me he pulled into the cove near the v2 residence and was attempting turn around and back out of the cove at the time of the incident.  Operator1 put the correct craft into reverse and then attempted to put it in neutral but noticed it would not shift out of reverse and kept backing up towards the v2 pier and shore stations.  

Operator1 attempted to put his boat in forward and informed me the boat stayed in reverse and by shifting into forward it caused the rpm's to increase making the boat go even faster in reverse and crash into the v2 boat on the shore station.  After the crash operator1 was able to manually put the boat back into neutral back at the motor and informed me after the incident the boat would shift from neutral to forward and back to neutral, but if the boat was put in reverse he could only manually put it back in neutral by leaving the driver's seat and shifting it at the motor.

I observed a scuff in the fiberglass at the stern of operator1's boat where he informed me it hit the v2 boat motor and i took photographs.

(september 9th, 2020 at 0958 hours)
I spoke with v2 on the phone and he advised the estimate for the damage from marina is approximately $3,000.00.


BARDID: IN-2020-0059
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-23 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Pine Lake
NearestCityorTown: LaPorte
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:

	On Sunday, August 23, 2020, an accident occurred on Pine Lake involving two personal watercraft's (PWC's) that struck head on.  The accident was reported on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, by the owner of the PWC's.

Details of Event:

	On Tuesday, August 23, 2020, I, Indiana Conservation Officer, was contacted by the Indiana Conservation Officer's Central Dispatch in reference to a subject from LaPorte wishing to report a boating accident that occurred over the weekend.

	I met with the reporting party at his residence.  Subject advised me that over the weekend, on August 23, he allowed a Operator1 and Operator2 to borrow his two personal watercrafts (PWC).  Subject stated that Operator2 returned to the Pine Lake Public Beach along Waverly Road, where the entire group was staying at for the day, and advised that he and Operator1 had just gotten into an accident.  

Subject said he used the Yellow Bombardier PWC to go find Operator1.  Subject then stated that he found Operator1 sitting on the back of a large ski boat, and was holding onto a rope that was tied to the front of the Blue Yamaha PWC that Operator1 had been operating.  Subject said at the time, the PWC being towed was barely above the surface of the water and that he took the rope from Operator1 and towed the PWC back to the beach himself.  Subject said the entire starboard side of the PWC was cracked, and that the engine compartment was full of water.  

Subject asked Operator2 and Operator1 what had just happened.  Subject advised that Operator1 informed him that the two were traveling towards each other on Pine Lake, and that the throttle on the Yellow bombardier was stuck in the open position.  Operator1 said that he and Operator2 had gotten into a head on collision, throwing Operator1 into the water.  Subject said, at the time, no injuries were sustained and that the group stayed out on Pine Lake for the remainder of the day.

	On August 26, 2020, I met with Operator1 at his residence.  Operator1 advised me that they were having a "lake day" and that Subject had brought his two PWC's out to Pine Lake for everyone to use.  Operator1 advised that he was on the Yellow bombardier and Operator2 was on the Blue Yamaha.  Operator1 stated that before the collision, he was traveling towards Operator2, head on.  

Operator1 stated that he tried to slow down upon his approach, but the throttle was stuck in the open position and he was unable to perform any evasive maneuvers.  I reconfirmed with Operator1 that the throttle was stuck, and he stated that the throttle was stuck "as fast as it could go".  May it be noted that in order to steer or maneuver a PWC, the operator must have the throttle engaged.  Knowing this, Operator1's statement about the PWC not being able to make any sort of evasive maneuver with the throttle stuck while engaged did not seem accurate.  

	Operator1 continued on and said that the PWC he was operating was filling up with water and that Operator2 returned to the beach to get Subject.  Operator1 then said that a boat pulled along side him to assist.  Operator1 tied a rope to the tow hook located on the bow of the PWC and held onto the rope to tow it in, when Subject arrived and towed the PWC back to the beach himself.  Operator1 stated that the good Samaritan's boat he was currently on brought him back up to the beach.  Operator1 would not say how long he stayed on Pine Lake after the accident, but did say that the next day, his lower back was very sore.  Operator1 was unable to provide any diagnosis from his visit to Beacon Health, but advised they gave him a shot to help with the pain.

	I have not been able to get in any sort of contact with Operator2, and the family is not cooperating at this time due to a pending civil lawsuit between Operator1, Operator2, and Subject.


BARDID: IN-2020-0060
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Burns Ditch
NearestCityorTown: Portage
County: Porter
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Electrical
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
On wednesday, august 26, 2020 at approximately 1200 hours, five people met with subject at the portage marina. Subject, who owns cms marine inc, rented a 1993 searay motorboat to subject2.
          at approximately 1215 hours, while underway on burns ditch under the rt 12 overpass, they all noticed white smoke coming from the engine compartment. Operator proceeded to shut the motor off. The motorboat drifted down burns ditch to the white buoy where the motorboat was anchored. Operator proceeded to use a fire extingusher in an attempt to put out the fire. With the possibility of the fire spreading, all 5 passengers abandoned the motorboat by jumping into burns ditch. Surrounding bystanders/boaters assisted all 5 with bringing them to safety. No injuries were reported. 
          the motorboat was towed back to portage marina and removed from the water.
Upon examining the battery/engine compartment, it appears the fire started at the battery which was partially melted. Subject stated that he had just put that particular battery in the boat which was new. Photographs of the boat and engine/battery compartment were taken.


BARDID: IN-2020-0063
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2020-09-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 11:44:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Jimmerson Lake
NearestCityorTown: Angola
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Other
OtherAccidentCause: Unseen water hazard
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
When i arrived on scene at approximately 1:56 pm, i witnessed a boat tied to the dock sunken to where the boat was resting on the lake bottom. The owner of the 2005 glastron 195sx bearing indiana registration was located nearby. 

The boat owner advised he was operating the watercraft on jimmerson lake by himself around 11:00 am when he struck something submerged in the water. He continued operating the watercraft not thinking any damage was done. Operator then started hearing a sound coming from the back of the boat and was having issues with the operation of the boat. He then made his way to the closest dock and tied it up. He left with others on another boat and was going to come back with a friend to look at the boat and troubleshoot the problems. At the time operator left the boat it was not taking on water. 

    approximately 45 minutes later Subject located the boat full of water sitting on the lake bottom. Subject made contact with operator via cell phone and advised him of the situation. Operator contacted his insurance company who attempted to find a service to remove the boat from the water. Arrangements were made for the boat to be removed on the morning of september 3, 2020. 

Estimated value of watercraft according to nada is approximately $12,000


BARDID: IN-2020-0064
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2020-09-07 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:50:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Monroe
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
AccidentCause2: Hull failure
AccidentCause3: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
I, indiana conservation officer (ico), was patrolling on september 7, 2020 at approximately 12:50 hours on lake monroe near the causeway. Ico and i received a report from ico dispatch that a boat had capsized near the causeway. At the time a pontoon had just started to approach us to direct us towards the capsized boat. 

Once we approached the boat we were assured that everyone was on land and was not injured. the boat owner and operator stated that the boat was having trouble running, but he thought it was just due to being a two stroke so wanted to run it for a few minutes. Operator stated that he was able to get the boat running, then it stopped, and started taking on water. Operator stated that the bilge pump would not keep up. Operator was able to get the boat close to the bank. 

When ico and i arrived the boat was 2/3 underwater with just the bow above the water line. Operator stated that he had had the boat for approximately a month and half, and had been on it 5 or 6 times. 

The boat was towed to cutright boat ramp by mcm towing


BARDID: IN-2020-0066
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-08-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cedar Lake
NearestCityorTown: Cedar Lake
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Other
OtherAccidentCause: Passenger/skier behavior
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On august 30, 2020, at approximately 1925 hours, a wake boarder being towed on cedar lake fell off a wake board and broke his right femur.  

The operator of the vessel stated he was towing the victim at slow speeds to teach him how to wake board.  Operator advised he did not see anything "out of the ordinary" happen to victim as the incident occurred.  Operator advised victim fell off the wake board into the water and started yelling he hurt his leg.  Victim was pulled into the boat and 911 contacted.

I interviewed the owner of the vessel,  owner stated he did not know how victim injured his leg.  Owner stated victim was trying to wake board and fell into the water.  Owner stated he was not clear on how the leg injury occurred. 

I interviewed the victim.  Victim stated he is "new" to wake boarding and "not sure what happened".  Victim stated he was being pulled up out of the water when he turned his leg to change the direction of the wake board when he fell.  Victim stated he did not hit anything in the water nor the vessel.  

No damage to the vessel or any other persons on-board.  No charges were filed and alcohol was not a factor in the incident.


BARDID: IN-2020-0068
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-09-12 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
I, indiana conservation officer (ico), was notified of a boat accident that occurred in monroe county on september 12, 2020, at approximately 17:00 hours. I received a report of an accident that occurred on monroe reservoir at the docks near fourwinds resort.  

Subject called into our dispatch center on september 15, 2020 to report a boat accident that had occurred the weekend prior. I called him back and subject informed me that his pontoon boat had been hit by another boat on saturday september 12, 2020, by a red crownline that was attempting to dock. Subject stated his boat was tied up in slip when another boat hit his outboard motor. Subject said the boat was operated by a female. 

Subject said he thought it was minor damage and spoke with the owner of the other boat about exchanging information. According to subject, subject2 agreed to take care of the repairs on their own without calling police for a report. When subject got an estimate from his boat dealer, he sent it to subject2. According to subject, subject2 would not return any phone calls or messages after that. 

Photos were taken of both boats and there was damage to the lower unit skag of the pontoon boat. There was also damage to the rear starboard side of the crownline.


BARDID: IN-2020-0069
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-10-05 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:32:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Liberty
County: Union
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
On Monday October 5th, 2020 at around 12:54 pm i, indiana conservation officer, while on duty in full uniform responded to the report of a boating accident resulting in property damage only at quakertown marina in liberty, indiana 47353.

Upon my arrival at 1:38 pm, i spoke with the three witnesses who observed and attempted to assist in preventing the accident. Two people who both work at quakertown marina, advised both vessels were now docked. 

The 2011 24 ft. Landau pontoon was still tied up at the marina gated dock north of the fuel dock. The 1987 gibson crusader houseboat was now docked at their reserved buoy on the north side of the marina.

Marina staff both advised operator1 Was operating and attempting to dock his houseboat at the fuel dock. While approaching the fuel dock on the south side, they could hear operator1 Having trouble with one his engines. Operator1 Made two attempts to dock. During the second approach, the wind started causing him to drift north between the fuel dock and the gated dock where v2's pontoon was docked. During this time, marina staff both attempted to assist the drifting houseboat by moving to the shoreline docks in between the fuel dock and the gated marina dock.

Also, during this time, subject1 observed the drifting houseboat. Subject1 attempted to assist with making sure the houseboat did not hit v2's pontoon by boarding the boat. As operator1 Continued to drift and struggle with engine problems, a big cloud of smoke came from the engine roughly 10 ft from the rear (stern) of the pontoon boat. The houseboat's rear (stern) was facing the pontoon's rear (stern), and then was quickly operated in reverse colliding the houseboat's rear/right (stern/starboard) with the pontoon's rear/port (stern/port) side. Subject1 had to jump out of the way to avoid injury.

After the collision, all parties involved were able to gain control of the boat and safely escort it out of the area without further damage. The impact broke the 5/8” docking line of the pontoon boat and caused a dent to the port side pontoon at the rear. The only other damage located was to the rear/right (stern/starboard) deck (photographs taken). Damage to the houseboat was only slight dents and scratches to the metal swimming platform at the rear/right (stern/starboard) of the boat (photographs taken).

I then spoke with operator1 And subject2. They both advised they knew they have had some issues with the right (starboard) engine, so they allowed the engines to warm up for roughly twenty minutes before operating. Operator1 Informed as he made his approach to the south side of the fuel dock, he wasn't quite straight enough. He then backed up for a second attempt, and he started having issues with the right engine. During this time, the wind caught the rear of his boat causing it to drift inside the docks. As he became overwhelmed with trying to control the boat drifting towards the other boats, the right engine started back up in full reverse causing it to collide with the pontoon boat.

V2 arrived on scene during the end of my investigation. V2, operator1 And subject2 all discussed the incident and shared information. All parties were provided the information for the incident report form and understood all information provided to them. Marina staff then provided me with video of the incident from the surveillance at the marina. According the video, the impact occurred at 12:32 pm. All statements were consistent with the video, and no indication of impairment was observed.


BARDID: IN-2020-0071
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2020-09-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:48:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Morse Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Noblesville
County: Hamilton
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On September 6, 2020 at approximately 1350 hours i did respond to morse reservoir marina ramp for a report of a boat that had sunk near the public ramp. Ico central dispatch advised that a boat had sunk near the gas docks at the ramp and that all occupants within the boat had made it safely to the docks and there were no injuries. Upon my arrival, i spoke to the caller (morse marina manager) and he showed me approximately where the boat had sunk. There was an oil/gasoline sheen on the water approximately 30 yards north of the end of the public ramp. 

I then spoke with the boat operator and owner on the gas docks adjacent to the boat ramp. Operator stated that he was operating the boat with three of his grandkids as passengers in the rear of the boat. Operator stated all three passengers were wearing lifejackets. Operator had just launched his boat into the water from the public ramp. Operator's watercraft was refurbished homemade 1975 sidewinder 1800 ss inboard runabout boat. He stated that while backing the boat away from the ramp water began to come over the stern of the boat and began to sink. Operator and the three passengers were able to swim to the docks and were uninjured. 

Due to the location of the sunken boat and the leaking gasoline, additional ico scuba divers were dispatched to assist with a recovery of the watercraft. co-owner of the boat, also provided insurance information for the watercraft. Paddacks towing service recovered the vehicle and placed the boat back on the trailer at the scene. Co-owner advised they were able to trailer the boat back to their residence. Furthermore, Co-owner advised on september 21, 2020 that her insurance company had paid out to them $4,000.


BARDID: IN-2020-0073
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2020-10-10 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Porter
County: Porter
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Electrical
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
The vessel was traveling eastbound at approximately 10 miles per hour when the occupants began to smell the odor of electrical material burning. A short time later smoke was observed coming from the engine compartment. The operator turned the vessel to head into shore. A short time later flames were seen toward the stern of the vessel and it lost all power. 

The operator attempted to utilize a handheld fire extinguisher to put out the flames but was overcome the smoke. The operator utilized a marine radio to call for help from any nearby vessel. The operator and all five passengers put on personal flotation devices and jumped overboard. 

After a few minutes, another vessel came by and retrieved all of the occupants from the water, transporting them back to the marina they departed from.  The vessel became fully engulfed and attempts from the portage fire department boat to put the fire out were unsuccessful and the remaining portion of the vessel sank. The vessel owner stated it was equipped with a fixed halon fire system but did not know if it was functioning at the time of the fire. The vessel owner stated it was equipped with two 454 cubic inch engines and transmissions and contained approximately 125 gallons of gasoline.


BARDID: IN-2020-0074
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2020-09-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 21:30:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Hammond
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Unknown
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:
     on 9/6/20 at approximately 9:07 pm, 9 people went for a nighttime boat ride on lake michigan.  Approximately 30 minutes into the boat ride, the passengers noticed that victim was no longer on the boat.  They heard him yelling for help in the water and were able to locate him in the lake.  They attempted to rescue him by throwing life jackets in the water, but the wind was too strong.  A female passenger jumped in the lake to get him but began to struggle also and had to be rescued by the remaining passengers.  By the time the female was pulled into the boat, the rescuers had lost sight of victim.  None of the other 8 passengers saw what caused victim to go overboard.   

Details of investigation/incident:
     on 9/7/20, i conservation officer det. Sgt. received a call advising me that a possible drowning had occurred on lake michigan, and that ico was on scene working with the coast guard and illinois officers to determine if the incident happened in illinois or indiana.  I contacted ICO1 who advised that it was determined that the incident happened in indiana waters, and requested my assistance.  ICO1 advised that victim had been on a boat with 8 other people the night before on a boat ride.  At approximately 9:30 pm on 9/6/20, someone on the boat noticed that victim was missing.  ICO1 said that they were unable to locate him, and called the coast guard, who have also been unable to locate victim.  I advised him to clear the boat of everyone and to make sure no one leaves with anything.  I also asked him to get a consent to search form filled out, and to get an evidence technician from the indiana state police to respond to process the boat.  ICO1 completed the tasks.  
  
     i interviewed owner at the whiting police department in whiting, in.  I asked owner to go through the events of the day that led up to the accident.  Owner said that they were out in the boat from about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, until 6 or 7 that evening. He said that he has known victim and the rest of the people at the marina for years, and they spend every weekend together.  

He said that there were a lot more people on the boat earlier in the day while they were at the beach, but most of them left when they came back to the dock in the evening.  He said that he started cooking for the people who were left on the boat, and he knew that they stayed there cooking until after dark, because he had to use his flashlight to cook on the grill.  

Owner said that after the meal was over, subject1 suggested that they go for a boat ride, so they all left.  He said that he didn't remember the exact time that they left, but it had been dark for a while, so he was guessing it was about 8:30 pm.  Owner said that he was downstairs cleaning up from the meal, victim and operator untied the ropes, and operator was driving the boat.  Owner said that he didn't know exactly where they picked them up, but they picked up two others on their way out of the marina.  

     owner said that they pulled out of the marina but stayed inside the break wall.  He said that they didn't go fast because he was having problems with the turbo on his boat, and they wouldn't kick in, so they kept the boat around 1000 rpm's.  Owner said that at the beginning of the ride, he was standing near the back of the boat with victim and subject2 and they were arguing.  He said that they weren't arguing loudly, but he could tell that they were arguing. Owner said that he went back downstairs to continue cleaning up, and victim came down with him, followed a short time later by subject2.  He said that he was uncomfortable being down there with them both, and he distinctly remembers victim telling subject2 to "get the fuck away from me. Just get away from me."  i asked what they were arguing about, and owner said that he had no idea.  He said it wasn't a loud fight, and no one was out of control, so he couldn't hear what the fight was about.  He said that the day they had was fantastic, and there was no reason that he knew of for the fight.  

     owner said that victim left and went back upstairs, and subject2 stayed down with him for a few minutes crying.  Owner again said that it was awkward being down there with her.  He said that subject3 was maybe down there at that time, but he couldn't remember for sure, and subject2 was texting someone on her phone.  He asked her if she wanted to go to the front room of the boat for privacy, but she declined.  He said that subject2 went back upstairs, and was gone from 1 to 5 minutes at the most, when he heard someone yelling.  He doesn't remember who it was, but they yelled to him to check for victim downstairs.  Owner said that he checked all the rooms downstairs, but victim was not there.  They figured then that he must be in the water, and he thought that subject4 spotted him first in the water.  Owner said that victim was far away from the boat.  He said that they actually heard victim yelling first, and he was so far away that they couldn't tell if it was him.  Wes maneuvered the boat toward victim's voice, and then they all saw him.  Owner said that victim was waving his arms and yelling for help.  He said that he was screeching.  

     i asked owner what the water was like, and he said that he is not a marine person to know exactly how big the waves were, but he said that the water was bad.  He said that there were big waves on the lake that night.  I asked him if being on the water in that condition made him nervous, he said that it didn't.  He said that his boat is about 54 ft in length, and it handles the waves very well, so he wasn't worried.  I asked if the boat was rocking in the waves, and he said that it was when they were going slo


BARDID: IN-2021-0001
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-02-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 09:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Patoka Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Celestine
County: Dubois
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (unknown origin)
AccidentCause1: Unknown
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
On February 19th 2021 around 09:00 am I was contacted by ICO dispatch in reference to a boat fire at Hoosier Hills Marina at Patoka Lake.  I made contacted with the Assistant Property Manager who advised there were at least three to four boats on fire at the time.   

At 09:25 am I spoke with Conservation Officer at the intersection of Hwy 545 and Lick Fork Marina Road.  While speaking with Officer1 I could see white smoke that looked like a giant cloud in the sky.  Officer1 stayed at the intersection to allow emergency personnel into the Marina and keep non-essential vehicles out.     

I arrived at the Marina and could see flames and black smoke coming from the “A Dock” group of boats towards the end of the pier.  A pier to the south of where the boats were burning had a large house boat and smaller house boat tied to it.  I walked out on that pier and positioned myself on the top of the smaller houseboat where I had a clear and unobstructed view of fire.  At that time I could see ten boats on fire and fully engulfed.    

Numerous pictures and videos were taken from this location.  The fire appeared to start on the boats closer to the shore and was working down the line of boats.  In a picture taken at 09:43 am I did not see fire coming from the boat docked in slip 48.  In a video at 09:50 am it is clear this boat is also on fire.  Eleven boats in total were completely destroyed.  Videos and pictures of the fire were downloaded to the state I drive and labeled by the time they were taken.  The last video I took from this location was at 09:03 am.   

I went back to shore and got the contact information for the Officer in Charge of the fire scene.   
At 11:13 am I started a video while I was on a boat with marina owner assessing the damage and putting out a boom to help contain fuel and debris.  In this video Owner says “I believe the one that started the fire is the one right there with the boom at the top.  That's the one I believe started it, we will confirm.  I ran over here, we, its either that one or the one next to it, but I believe its that one.”  Later in the video he once again referenced this boat saying “So I believe that the one with the boom is where the fire started.  In the very front of the boat, which is, I don't understand.”   
  
During our conversation on the boat Owner also advised he was able to push out the two boats that were tied to the pier south of the fire.  This created a fire break limiting the fire to the eleven boats in between where the boats were able to be pushed out.   


The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshalls Office. No injuries were reported.   
During the initial investigation it was determined that after the fire started efforts were made by Hoosier Hill Marina staff to put out the fire.  Two boats were moved from the docks, creating a fire break.    
The marina is closed at this time while fire crews continue to monitor for potential hot spots.  Staff from the marina are working to contact the affected boat owners.   


BARDID: IN-2021-0002
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-03-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Salamonie
NearestCityorTown: Wabash
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Fair
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent3: Sinking
AccidentCause1: People on gunwale, bow, or transom
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:     
    
I CORPORAL WAS WORKING AS AN INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER IN WABASH COUNTY. I WAS NOTIFIED OF A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON SALAMONIE LAKE IN WABASH COUNTY. THE OPERATOR OF THE BOAT CALLED ME DIRECT AND CLAIMED HIS BOAT SUNK BUT HE MANAGED TO SWIM TO SHORE AND WAS NOW AT HIS VEHICLE AT DORA BOAT RAMP. I HAD HIM DRIVE HOME SINCE HE DID NOT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WARM UP WITH A WARM SHOWER AND CHANGE OF CLOTHES. I TOLD HIM AFTER THAT I WOULD MEET WITH HIM TO GO BACK AND TRY AND MARK WHERE HIS BOAT WENT DOWN.    
    
AFTER MEETING WITH BOAT OWNER, WE WENT TO THE DORA BOAT RAMP TO LAUNCH MY PATROL BOAT SO WE COULD RETURN TO THE SCENE. Operator EXPLAINED TO BE THAT HE WAS TESTING OUT HIS 14' ALUMINUM FLAT BOTTOM JOHN BOAT WITH A MUD MOTOR. He EXPLAINED HE WAS ADJUSTING THE TRIM TABS ON THE MOTOR WHEN THE PROP CAME OUT OF THE WATER. WHEN THE PROP SUBMERGED AGAIN IT TRUSTED FORWARD CAUSING him TO LOSE HIS BALANCE IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT. WHEN he LOST HIS BALANCE, HE FELL TO THE REAR OF THE BOAT GRABBING THE MOTOR AND THE GUNWALE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BOAT STARTED TO TAKE ON WATER OVER THE STERN. Operator TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING, AND HE WAS NOT WEARING HIS SAFETY kill switch CUT OUT LANYARD. THIS CAUSED THE BOAT TO CONTINUE TO RUN AND PROPEL IN A CIRCLE. Operator WAS STILL SINKING WITH THE BOAT AND PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE WATER. He CONTINUED TO KEEP HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE SPINNING PROP AND PUSHED OFF FROM THE BOAT AS IT CONTINUED TO SINK. THE MOTOR OF THE BOAT SHUT OFF WHEN IT WHEN BENEATH THE SURFACE. Operator WAS NOT WEARING A LIFE JACKET IN THE 43* WATER AND HAD A GOOD DISTANCE TO SWIM. Operator LOOKED TO SHORE BOTH WAYS AND DETERMINED ONE WAY HAD A ROCK WALL THAT WOULD BE IMPASSABLE. His LIFE JACKET WAS FLOATING NEARBY BUT WAS DRIFTING AWAY TOO FAST TO GRAB IT IN THE WIND. Operator MADE THE DECISION TO SWIM TO SHORE AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT. He CLAIMED THAT HIS HANDS AND FEET DID NOT HAVE MUCH FEELING IN THEM AFTER MAKING IT TO SHORE AND HIS PHONE WAS MALFUNCTIONING WITH A LOW BATTERY. FROM HERE Operator HAD TO WALK A GREAT DISTANCE BACK TO THE NEAREST BOAT RAMP WHERE HE WAS PARKED. He LOOKED AROUND TO FIND NO OTHER PERSON DURING OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. Operator SAID WHEN HE MADE IT BACK TO HIS VEHICLE, HE CALLED ME FOR HELP.    
  
I NOTIFIED THE ICO DIVE TEAM TO COORDINATE WITH MY GPS POINT, SONAR, AND DIVERS TO PLAN A DIVE LATER TO RECOVER THE BOAT AND MOTOR.  


BARDID: IN-2021-0003
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-04-13 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:50:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Wabash River
NearestCityorTown: Lafayette
County: Tippecanoe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
ON 4/13/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER RESPONDED TO THE WABASH RIVER IN TIPPECANOE COUNTY FOR A SUBJECT WHO HAD FLIPPED HIS BOAT AND WAS STRANDED ON THE CAPSIZED BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER. INFORMATION GATHERED INDICATED THE SUBJECT WAS IN THE AREA OF THE 225 BRIDGE. 
        ICO AND I LAUNCHED A RIVER BOAT FROM THE DAVIS FERRY ACCESS SITE AND HEADED UPSTREAM TOWARDS THE AREA. AS he AND I APPROACHED THE 225 BRIDGE, THE TIPPECANOE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HAD LAUNCHED A RIVER BOAT FROM A PRIVATE RAMP AT THE BRIDGE AND STARTED UPSTREAM. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD RETRIEVED THE STRANDED BOATER, LATER IDENTIFIEd, AND BROUGHT HIM BACK TO SHORE TO BE EVALUATED BY EMS. AFTER he WAS EVALUATED ON SCENE, HE REFUSED FURTHER TREATMENT. 
        AT THIS POINT, PECK AND I ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE CAPSIZED BOAT. DUE TO ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT AND DAYLIGHT, my assistant AND I WERE UNABLE TO UPRIGHT THE BOAT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD RETURN THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE THE BOAT. UPON RETURNING TO THE DAVIS FERRY RAMP, I MADE CONTACT WITH NATHAN. 
        WHEN I ASKED Operator WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE BOAT AND WANTED TO TAKE IT OUT ON THE RIVER. He FURTHER STATED THAT AS HE WAS CRUISING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER ABOUT HALF POWER. He EXPLAINED THAT HE STRUCK AN UNKNOWN OBJECT UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER CAUSING HIS TILLER STEER MOTOR TO KICK SIDEWAYS. He EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE BOW OF THE BOAT CAME UP AND THE BOAT ROLLED OVER. He THEN WAS ABLE TO REBOARD THE SWAMPED BOAT AND CALL HIS WIFE TO GET ASSISTANCE. I ASKED him IF HE HAD ANY LIFE JACKETS ON BOARD. He ADVISED THAT HE DID HAVE A LIFE JACKET IN THE FRONT OF THE BOAT BUT COULD NOT REACH IT WHEN THE BOAT FLIPPED OVER.  IN ADDITION, I ASKED him HOW MUCH BOATING EXPERIENCE HE HAD, TO WHICH HE ADVISED LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE.  
        AT THIS POINT, I EXPLAINED TO him THAT WE WOULD BE RETURNING THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO ATTEMPT TO GET HIS BOAT OUT OF THE WATER. THE NEXT MORNING, ICO AND SGT. ASSISTED WITH RETRIEVING THE BOAT FROM THE WATER. UPON FLIPPING THE BOAT BACK UPRIGHT, WE WERE ABLE TO TOW IT TO THE SHORE AND REMOVE ALL THE WATER. WE THEN TOWED THE BOAT BACK TO DAVIS FERRY WHERE operator WAS ABLE TO LOAD THE BOAT BACK ONTO THE TRAILER. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT he HAD THE HIN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOW INSTEAD OF THE BOAT REGISTRATION NUMBER. I EXPLAINED WHICH NUMBERS NEEDED TO BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOW AND ISSUED HIM A WRITTEN WARNING FOR IMPROPER DISPLAY.


BARDID: IN-2021-0005
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-04-29 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:43:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Geist Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: McCordsville
County: Hamilton
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
OWNER OF THE 2000 GLASTRON RUNABOUT HAD JUST LAUNCHED HIS BOAT AND STARTED IT WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE OPENED THE ENGINE HATCH AND FLAMES WITH BLACK SMOKE FILLED THE AREA. THE RAMP ATTENDANT USED A TYPE B FIRE EXSTINGUISHER BUT THE FIRE WAS TOO LARGE. THE BOAT OWNER WATCHED IT BURN TO THE WATER LINE UNTIL FISHER'S FIRE ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE BOAT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.


BARDID: IN-2021-0006
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-03-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: White River
NearestCityorTown: Indianapolis
County: Marion
WaterConditions: Unknown
StrongCurrent: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Fair
AccidentEvent1: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper anchoring
AccidentCause2: Dam/lock
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
I ALSO SPOKE WITH father.  He DID NOT SPEAK ANY ENGLISH AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET INFORMATION THROUGH FRIENDS.  he INDICATED THAT HE AND victim HAD BROUGHT THE CANOE DOWN TO THE RIVER TO CLEAN.  HE SAID THE ROPE BROKE AND THEY DRIFTED OUT INTO THE CURRENT.  THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE CANOE BEFORE IT WENT OVER THE DAM.  He SAID BOTH HE AND victim WENT OVER THE DAM AND THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE WATER,  BUT COULD NOT SEE WHERE victim WENT.  I TOLD him THAT THE CANOE HAD BEEN LOCATED AND WHERE HE COULD FIND IT.    
LATER IN THE DAY ONE OF THE WITNESSES, RETURNED TO THE RIVER.  SHE INDICATED THAT SHE WAS THERE WITH HER CHILDREN.  SHE SAID SHE SAW victim AND father BRING THE CANOE DOWN TO THE WATER.  SHE SAID THEY WERE IN THE CANOE, LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME RIGHT ALONG THE SHORE.  SHE SAID VERY SHORTLY AFTER THEY GOT IN THE CANOE, IT BEGAN DRIFTING TOWARDS THE DAM.  SHE SAID AS THE TWO MEN REALIZED THAT THEY WERE GOING OVER THE DAM THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE CANOE.  SHE SAID SHE SAW father MAKE IT TO SHORE AND WATCHED victim FLOAT FARTHER DOWNSTREAM.


BARDID: IN-2021-0007
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-04-16 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:47:00
CoordinatesConfidence: C
NameOfBodyOfWater: Wabash River
NearestCityorTown: Cayuga
County: Vermillion
WaterConditions: Unknown
StrongCurrent: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Dam/lock
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:
     cayuga generating station reported an overturned boat up against a low head dam in discharge canal that leads to the wabash river. The body a white male was located the discharge canal two days later. Autopsy report findings were cause of death: consistent with drowning, manner of death: accidental. 

Details of investigation/incident:
     on april 16, 2021 at, or about 2:47 p.m. i, indiana conservation officer, received a call from indiana conservation officers dispatch stating that a duke energy employee had observed an overturned boat in a discharge canal. It was also reported there were life jackets and tackle floating on the water. Duke energy power station is located near cayuga in vermillion county, indiana. 
     i spoke with the vermillion county sheriff's dispatch and they advised the boat was up against a low head dam in a restricted area of the cooling water discharge. Indiana conservation officers responded to the area. 
     cpl. Went to the lodi public access site on the wabash river upstream of the duke energy generating station. He reported observing a red, 2014, dodge ram pickup truck and boat trailer. 
     i launched a boat on duke energy property and traveled downstream. As i approached the cooling water discharge canal from the wabash river, i observed a large red and white sign with the words "danger - turbulent waters do not enter." there were two other signs stating "danger - turbulent waters do not enter" along the canal as we moved upstream. 
     i observed a yellow floating boom on the north bank that appeared to have been once stretched across the discharge canal. The boom was not blocking entrance to the canal. I also observed a second floating boom that appeared to stretch across from the north side of the canal to the south side of the canal. There was a 2 foot to 4-foot section of the boom that was not intact and was large enough for a boat to easily cross the boom without restraint. 
     continuing approximately 600 yards upstream from the where the canal joins the wabash river, i observed a structure commonly referred to as a low head dam. Water was pouring over the low head dam. I was later told by duke energy employee that when the boat was first observed they estimated that 256,000 gallons of water per minute were pouring over the low head dam. 
      i observed an aluminum fishing boat overturned and up against the face of the dam on the north side. The boat appeared to be held up against the face of the dam by the force of the water. I also observed two coolers and two red boat fuel tanks being held by the water up against the face of the dam.  
     two members of the clinton fire department were at the scene in a aluminum boat. On shore were vermillion county deputies, cayuga town marshal, members of the cayuga volunteer fire department, and illiana emergency medical services as well as several duke energy employees. 
     deputy contacted danville police department who in turn contacted the family of victim. His wife, stated he had waited for his grandchildren to get on the school bus at 8:00 a.m. he then left the house with his boat to go fishing at the duke energy generating station. She said that he did not go with his usual fishing partner and sometimes he would stay all day. She had not heard from her husband. Ico dispatch confirmed that he had a boat registered to him with registration number, sea nymph, green/tan in color. This matched the description and registration number of the boat up against the low head dam.
     duke energy employees engaged a water pump to help the divert the water from flowing over the low head dam. Ico and i utilized sonar units but proved ineffective as the water was extremely turbid and were unable to get close enough to the target area. As the pumps began to lower the water, we were then able to utilize sonar in the area. 
     ico and i tied a rope onto the bow of the boat and with the assistance of shoreline personnel pulled the boat out of the dam and to the north shore of the canal. The boat was still inverted and later righted, searched, and photographed. The boat was removed from the water later that evening. 
     ico and i began to search the underwater area with a drag bar. As the water continued to decrease in volume and the current subsided, we began to search the area with pike poles. We used the pike poles to feel the bottom for the victim. I located an item on the bottom of the canal that felt inconsistent with the hard surface of the bottom. I utilized scuba gear and conducted an underwater search of the area. I located the item in approximately 18 feet of water and brought the item to the surface. The item was a large cast net that was wrapped tightly into a ball. 
     the search for the victim was concluded at approximately 11:30 p.m. on 04/16/2021.

Saturday, april 17, 2021

     ico was assigned to patrol the area in the morning shift and did not locate anything related to the investigation. He advised duke energy employees they could return the water flow to normal levels. 
     later that afternoon i met with vermillion county corner. Coroner wheat requested to survey the area and patrolled along with me for a short time. I searched the underwater area of the canal with sonar. At approximately 8:00 p.m. began to capture images consistent with a human body on the bottom of the canal. I contacted my supervisor. He arrived and met me at the canal discharge. As we began to prepare a dive plan for an underwater search of the sonar target images. Asian carp began to jump out of the water making impossible to continue in safety. We had to cease the search operation at that time. 
     
Sunday, april 18, 2021

     i met with ico sgt. At the duke energy boat ramp and traveled by boat downstream to the discharge canal. As we entered the discharge canal from the wabash river, we moved upstream approximately 80 yards and i observed a human body floating beneath the surface with only the back of the head and shoulders exposed above the waterline. I captured several photographs of the area and of the cadaver. 
     i could see a 2 - 3 inch laceration to the back on of the exterior of the head. The area had some blood seeping from the wound. I could tell the cadaver was that of a male fitting the description of the missing boater. The man was clothed in a denim type coat. Both the skin and the coat were stained with a light coat of brown debris. 
     i contacted ico, dispatch and vermillion county coroner of the recovery.
     i held onto the back of the coat while sgt. And i secured the body with a ¼ inch nylon rope under the arms and around the chest. This portion of the rope was secured to a boat cleat on the bow on the port side. The remainder of the rope was then secured around the cadaver's legs and secured to a cleat on the stern on the port side. Once it was secured, we continued up stream to the area of the low head dam.
     i removed a brown leather wallet bearing a cross from the left rear jean pocket of the cadaver. I opened it and removed the driver's license and state of firearm owner's identification card. I photographed the two items. Both cards bore the name and identifiers. The photograph on the identification cards appeared to be that of the cadaver. The cadaver also fit the identifiers of male, age 64, 5' 10", 180 lbs, with brown hair. Hair length and facial hair were consistent with the ph


BARDID: IN-2021-0009
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-03-13 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 00:00:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Private pond, frontage
NearestCityorTown: Michigan City
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Drug
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
VESSEL 1 WAS STATIONARY IN A PRIVATE POND WITH THREE OCCUPANTS. OPERATOR 1 STOOD UP TO URINATE,  WHICH CAUSED VESSEL 1 TO ROLL OVER. OPERATOR 2 AND WITNESS 1 WERE ABLE TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE, OPERATOR 1 WAS NOT.  WITNESS 1 LEFT THE SCENE IN ATTEMPT TO FIND HELP, WHILE OPERATOR 2 REMAINED ON SHORE.  WITNESS 1 WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND NEVER RETURNED. OPERATOR 2 WAS LOCATED ON SHORE THE FOLLOWING DAY, DECEASED. OPERATOR 1 WAS ALSO LOCATED THE FOLLOWING DAY UNDER THE WATER, DECEASED. OPERATOR 1'S CAUSE OF DEATH WAS DROWNING SECONDARY TO HYPOTHERMIA.  OPERATOR 2'S CAUSE OF DEATH WAS HYPOTHERMIA EXPOSURE.  NO PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICES WERE ONBOARD OR AVAILABLE.  DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE BOTH CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE INVESTIGATION.


BARDID: IN-2021-0010
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-05-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 10:35:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lynville Lake
NearestCityorTown: Lynville
County: Warrick
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
        ON MAY 25TH 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY  10:35 AM WARRICK COUNTY EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER DISPATCHELD AN INJURED PERSON AT LYNVILLE LAKE. THEY DISPATCHED THAT A JETSKI BLEW UP, GIRLFRIEND FLEW OFF, BACK INJURED, LAYING ON THE BEACH. THEY STATED THE JET SKI WAS STILL ON FIRE. THE CALLER WAS WITNESS. HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE JETSKI AND BOYFRIEND OF THE INJURED FEMALE OPERATOR.  
INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER AND LYNNVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS EN ROUTE TO THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT BY BOAT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE AREA KNOW AS THE FALLS. THE LOCATION IS AT THE NORTH EAST END OF THE PROPERTY AND ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE FRONT ENTRANCE BY BOAT.  
MYSELF AND ISP TROOPER 1 PARKED ON DOERNER RD JUST NORTH OF THE LOCATION WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. WE WERE ABLE TO CROSS A FIELD AND WALK THROUGH THE WOODS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH OPERATOR AND WITNESS. TROOPER 1 AND I WERE FIRST ON SCENE. AS WE APPROACHED WE OBSERVED OPERATOR LYING FACE DOWN IN THE GRAVEL ON THE SMALL BEACH AREA. WITNESS WAS STANDING NEXT TO HER ON THE PHONE. THE JET SKI WAS OVERTURNED IN THE WATER AND JUST THE BOTTOM OF THE SKI COULD BE SEEN. I SHOUTED TO WITNESS ANNOUNCING WHO I WAS AND ASKED WHAT CONDITION OPERATOR WAS IN. HE STATED THAT OPERATOR WAS COMPLAINING OF BACK PAIN BUT ALERT AND BREATHING. 
I THEN HAD A FISHERMAN THAT WAS NEAR BY PULL TO THE BANK AND GIVE MYSELF AND THE TROOPER A SHORT RIDE OUT TO THE GRAVEL BAR WHERE OPERATOR WAS LOCATED. WITHOUT MOVING OPERATOR I ASKED HER WHAT WAS HURT ON HER. SHE ADVISED THAT HER LOWER BACK WAS HURT. I ASKED HER TO MOVE HER FEET AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DO SO. I THEN ASKED OPERATOR TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS AND SHE SUCCESSFULLY ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS FOR ME. I ASKED OPERATOR IF SHE COULD TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. OPERATOR STATED THAT SHE HAD GOT ONTO THE JET SKI AND WHEN SHE HIT THE BUTTON TO START IT THE SKI BLEW UP THROWING HER UP INTO THE AIR. SHE STATED THAT SHE THEN CAME BACK DOWN AND LANDED ON THE SKI HURTING HER BACK. WITNESS THEN WADED OUT INTO THE WATER AND GRABBED OPERATOR PULLING HER BACK TO THE SHORE. I ADVISED OPERATOR THAT THE BOAT WAS ON ITS WAY AND THEY WOULD BE GIVING HER A RIDE UP TO THE AMBULANCE. I THEN ASKED WITNESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED. HIS STORY WAS THE SAME AS OPERATOR'S. HE STATED SHE HAD STARTED THE SKI UP AND IT EXPLODED THROWING OPERATOR INTO THE AIR.  
ONCE THE BOAT ARRIVED WITH EMS FROM ST. VINCENT THEY LOOKED OPERATOR OVER AND ADVISED DISPATCH THAT STATFLIGHT WOULD BE NEEDED. THE MEDICS THEN LOADED OPERATOR ONTO A BACKBOARD. WE THEN LOADED HER INTO the BOAT. THE FIREMEN AND EMS TRANSPORTED OPERATOR TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE WHERE THE AMBULANCE WAS LOCATED. OPERATOR WAS THEN STAT FLIGHTED TO ST.VINCENT IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA. I LATER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO DISCOVER OPERATOR SUFFERED FIVE SPINAL FRACTURES OF HER L8,L9,L10,L11 AND L12. SHE WAS NOT EXPECTED TO NEED SURGERY FOR THE INJURY. 
WE THEN OVERTURNED THE SKI AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL IT ONTO THE SHORE. THE SKI WAS FULL OF WATER AND WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE LOCATION IT WAS FOUND. THE SKI WAS A 1998 POLARIS AND HAD A 2019 KENTUCKY REGISTRATION. I ADVISED WITNESS THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE THE SKI REMOVED FROM THE LAKE.


BARDID: IN-2021-0011
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-05-20 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Shafer
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: White
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with floating object
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
AccidentCause2: Improper lookout
AccidentCause3: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
  ON THURSDAY, MAY 20, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15 PM, I WAS CONTACTED BY THE WHITE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IN REFERENCE TO A BOAT THAT HAD HIT THE BUOYED CABLE NEAR NORWAY DAM.  AS I WAS EN ROUTE TO THE SCENE I HEARD A WHITE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DEPUTY, ADVISE THAT HE WAS ON SCENE. DEPUTY ADVISED THAT IT WAS A RENTAL BOAT AND THAT ANOTHER BOAT WAS ON SCENE HELPING TO GET THE BOAT BACK ONTO THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE CABLE.  HELMS THEN ADVISED THAT THE BOAT WAS BACK ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE CABLE AND THAT THE BOATS WERE HEADING BACK TOWARDS LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS.  I RESPONDED TO LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS INSTEAD OF THE SCENE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BOAT OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS.      
    WHEN I ARRIVED AT LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS, DEPUTY AND WHITE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SERGEANT WERE ALREADY ON SCENE AND SPEAKING WITH THE OWNER.  DEPUTIES WERE ADVISING OF THE INCIDENT THAT HAD JUST TAKEN PLACE INVOLVING ONE OF HIS RENTAL BOATS.  He ADVISED THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A COMPLAINT OF ONE OF HIS RUNABOUT BOATS DRIVING RECKLESSLY ON THE LAKE AND THAT HE HAD SENT TWO OF HIS EMPLOYEES OUT IN ANOTHER RENTAL BOAT TO FIND THE RECKLESS DRIVING BOAT AND HAVE THEM RETURN TO THE BUSINESS.  HE ADVISED HE ONLY HAD ONE RUNABOUT BOAT RENTED OUT AT THE TIME SO HE KNEW WHO IT WAS.  AS HE WAS TELLING US THAT INFORMATION, I OBSERVED TWO RENTAL BOATS PULLING UP TO THE BOAT DOCK.  I WENT OUT ONTO THE PIER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SUBJECTS.      
    I OBSERVED FOUR MALES EXITING THE RENTAL BOAT THAT HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT WITH THE CABLE NEAR THE DAM.  I ASKED WHO WAS OPERATING THE BOAT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND ONE OF THE MALES, LATER IDENTIFIED, ADVISED THAT HE WAS OPERATING.  I ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED INVOLVING THE RENTAL BOAT AND CABLE.  ANOTHER MALE SUBJECT, LATER IDENTIFIED, BEGAN TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.  HE ADVISED THAT THEY WERE DRIVING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE CABLE AND AS THEY TURNED TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE CABLE, THE REAR OF THE BOAT STRUCK THE CABLE AND SOMEHOW THEY ENDED UP ON TOP OF THE CABLE.  HE ADVISED THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD GET OFF OF THE CABLE WAS TO PUSH THE BOAT OVER THE CABLE TOWARDS THE DAM.  THEY THEN HAD TO DRIVE THE BOAT BACK OVER THE CABLE TO GET BACK ONTO THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE CABLE.  I ADVISED HIM THAT I APPRECIATED THE INFORMATION BUT THAT I HAD ASKED OPERATOR WHAT HAPPENED AND I REALLY WANTED TO GET HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED

OPERATOR THAN TOLD ME THE SAME ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS HE DID.  I ASKED ALL OF THE SUBJECTS IN THE BOAT IF THEY HAD ANY IDENTIFICATION AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS IN THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE LOT ON TOP OF THE HILL.  I ADVISED THAT ONE OF THEM NEEDED TO GO UP AND GET THE VEHICLE SO EVERYBODY COULD OBTAIN THEIR IDENTIFICATION.  I THEN ASKED ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES IF THEY HAD CHECKED TO MAKE SURE NO WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOAT SINCE IT COULD HAVE SUSTAINED HULL DAMAGE FROM THE CABLE.  THE EMPLOYEE LOOKED AND DID NOT SEE ANY WATER IN THE HULL OF THE BOAT.  I THEN ADVISED OWNER THAT HE SHOULD PULL THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER SO WE COULD CHECK IT FOR DAMAGE.  AFTER PULLING THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER, THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE HULL AND SOME MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER UNIT.  OWNER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO HIS BOAT TO NECESSITATE AN ACCIDENT REPORT.  ALL OF THE SUBJECTS FROM THE BOAT GAVE THERE IDENTIFICATION TO DEPUTY SO HE COULD ADD THEM TO THE CALL REPORT THAT THE WHITE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER HAD ALREADY CREATED.  I WAS GOING TO GO TO NORWAY DAM AND LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO HE CABLE.  DEPUTY STAYED AT LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS WITH THE FOUR SUBJECTS WHO HAD BEEN IN THE BOAT.        
    WHEN I ARRIVED AT NORWAY DAM, I WAS MET BY DEPUTY AND NIPSCO EMPLOYEE.  EMPLOYEE REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE OUR PATROL BOAT THAT IS KEPT ON A LIFT NEXT TO THE DAM AND LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE BUOYS AND CABLE.  DEPUTY, AND I BOARDED OUR PATROL BOAT AND PROCEEDED OUT TO WHERE THE RENTAL BOAT HAD STRUCK THE CABLE.  AS WE WERE HEADING OUT, HE ADVISED THAT HE HAD SEVERAL MINUTES OF VIDEO OF THE BOAT DRIVING IN A RECKLESS MANNER RIGHT TOWARDS THE BUOYED CABLE AND THEN WOULD TURN AWAY IN AN ABRUPT MANNER JUST BARELY MISSING THE BUOYS AND CABLE.  HE ADVISED THEN THE BOAT DROVE STRAIGHT AT THE CABLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED BUT NEVER TURNED AND DROVE RIGHT INTO THE CABLE.  AS WE APPROACHED WHERE THE RENTAL BOAT STRUCK THE CABLE, WE OBSERVED THAT ONE OF THE LARGE ORANGE BUOYS THAT SUSPENDS THE CABLE HAD BEEN STRUCK SO HARD THAT IT WAS DAMAGED AND MOVED OUT OF PLACE FURTHER DOWN THE CABLE.  WE COULD SEE ANOTHER BUOY HAD BEEN STRUCK AND IT HAD VISIBLE DAMAGE TO IT AS WELL.  DEPUTY TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE WHILE I OPERATED THE BOAT.  I ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND HE ADVISED PROBABLY $5000-$10,000.  I THEN PUT THE PATROL BOAT BACK ON THE LIFT AFTER WE WERE FINISHED LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE.  I REQUESTED FORWARD THE VIDEO HE HAD OF THE RENTAL BOAT'S DRIVING TO ME AND I REQUESTED DEPUTY PROVIDE ME WITH COPIES OF THE PICTURES THAT HE HAD TAKEN.  I THEN WENT BACK TO LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS.      
    WHEN I ARRIVED BACK AT LAKE SHAFER BOAT RENTALS, I MET WITH THE FOUR SUBJECTS AGAIN.  I ADVISED THEM THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BUOYS ON THE CABLE THAT THEY HAD STRUCK AND THAT I WAS GOING TO BE COMPLETING A BOAT CRASH REPORT.  I ALSO ADVISED THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE RECEIVING A CITATION FOR DANGEROUS OPERATION.  I EXPLAINED THE CITATION TO HIM AND ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING IT.  HE ADVISED THAT HE DID NOT AND HE SIGNED THE CITATION.  I ADVISED THE FOUR SUBJECTS THAT THEY WERE FREE TO GO.  I HAD OWNER PROVIDE ME A COPY OF THE RENTAL AGREEMENT AND BOAT REGISTRATION INFORMATION.  OWNER ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF ALL FOUR SUBJECTS' IDENTIFICATION.    


BARDID: IN-2021-0012
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-05-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:37:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Sullivan Lake
NearestCityorTown: Sullivan
County: Sullivan
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MAY 22, 2021, AT OR ABOUT 7:31 P.M., I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 1, WAS NOTIFIED BY SULLIVAN COUNTY DISPATCH THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED REPORTS OF A WOMAN SUFFERING A HEAD INJURY BECAUSE OF A BOATING ACCIDENT. I ARRIVED AT THE MAIN BOAT RAMP OF SULLIVAN LAKE AND LOCATED THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. SULLIVAN COUNTY AMBULANCE TEAM, SCAT 1, BEGAN TREATING THE FEMALE, INJURED, WHO ALLEGEDLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER BEING THROWN FROM AN INNER TUBE THAT SHE AND HER BROTHER, BRETT MATHENA, WERE RIDING.    
    WHILE INJURED WAS BEING EVALUATED BY SCAT 1, I BEGAN INTERVIEWING AND COLLECTING INFORMATION FROM THE WITNESSES ON THE BOAT. OPERATOR WAS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE BOAT. OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WAS PULLING THE TUBE APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MILES PER HOUR, AND AS HE TURNED THE BOAT AT THE NORTH END OF THE LAKE, THE INNER TUBE CROSSED THE WAKE AND THREW THE OCCUPANTS OFF IT. OPERATOR STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT HE STRUCK ANYTHING IN THE WATER WHICH COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT. OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN DRINKING, AND I DID NOT DETECT ANY SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT WHILE SPEAKING WITH HIM. I INSPECTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE BOAT AND INNER TUBE THAT WAS PULLED DURING THE INCIDENT.   
    WITNESS WHO WAS ONE OF THE OBSERVERS ON THE BOAT, INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD BEEN RECORDING THE INCIDENT AND PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF IT. WITNESS'S VIDEO WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED BY THE PASSENGERS OF THE BOAT. THE VIDEO DETAILS INDICATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 6:37 P.M.  
     TUBER 2, WHO WAS ON THE INNER TUBE WITH INJURED, STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT SHE HIT HER HEAD ON. TUBER 2 STATED THAT HE SWAM UP TO HIS SISTER AFTER THE INCIDENT, WHO WAS FLOATING ON HER BACK, AND HE SAID SHE APPEARED TO BE OUT OF IT. HE WAS NOT SURE IF SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT SHE APPEARED DAZED AND SOMEWHAT INCOHERENT. BOTH TUBER 2 AND INJURED WERE WEARING PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.    
    INJURED'S HUSBAND, PASSENGER 2, WAS A PASSENGER ON THE BOAT AS WELL. PASSENGER 2 STATED THAT HIS WIFE HAD CONSUMED TWO OR THREE SMIRNOFF RED WHITE AND BLUE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT OCCURRING. I INFORMED HIM THAT I WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE AT SULLIVAN COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LATER THAT EVENING.    
     I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE INJURED'S FAMILY AT SULLIVAN COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. I WAS INFORMED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL THAT THERE WERE NO DOCUMENTED INJURIES ON HER CT SCAN OR EVALUATION. INJURED WAS TREATED FOR A CONCUSSION AND WOULD LIKELY BE RELEASED THAT EVENING.    
      


BARDID: IN-2021-0013
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-05-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:18:00
CoordinatesConfidence: C
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lazy-L-Lake
NearestCityorTown: West Terre Haut
County: Vigo
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:
     members of a miniature hydroplane association were conducting annual watercraft testing. A member was operating his watercraft at a high rate of speed out of sight of the group. Other members heard his engine stop running and he was found floating face down in the water next to his watercraft.

Details of investigation/incident:
     on may 22, at, or about 1:20 p.m. i was contacted by vigo county sheriff's deputy lieutenant. Lt. Advised that there had been a boat crash causing serious bodily injury to the operator and could result in death. The crash occurred on lazy-l-lake in west terre haute, in vigo county, indiana. 
     he advised a boat enthusiast group was hosting a boat testing event prior to the racing season. He stated that one of the operators went out of sight from the rest of the group behind an island. Witnesses heard the engine stop running immediately. They found the operator in the water next to his boat. He stated indiana conservation officer was at the scene and performed cpr on the victim. The victim was then transported to region hospital in terre haute. 
     i arrived at lazy-l-lake and met with lt. And off duty indiana conservation officer. Officer was also there testing his own mini hydroplane boat. He explained to me that the american power boat association (apba) was holding an annual weekend boat testing event prior to the beginning of the summer racing season. Members would drive their boats, tune the engines, and fine tune steering controls, etc. He showed me the mini hydroplane belonging to the victim that was resting on a wheeled cart near the water's edge.
     officer pointed out the noticeable damage to the boat and helmet. The operator's helmet was resting on the gunwale of the boat. I observed the following areas that appeared to be damaged presumably related to the high-speed boating crash:

"	port side sponson strip of wood on the tunnel side; separated from the sponson
"	cockpit plexiglass windshield cracked, broken, and scuffed
"	vinyl edging around windshield peeled back no longer in place
"	steering wheel - top portion bent forward
"	dual metal mufflers - significant portion of bottom side of lower bell bent inward over 50%
"	dual metal mufflers - small potion of top side of same lower bell bent inward 
"	propeller was removed from lower unit and not observed - witnesses all advised no damage to propeller observed
"	tiedown rope for outboard lower unit frayed and severed
"	helmet displayed black scuff marks on center top side
"	helmet vinyl face edging dislodged around edge of face opening
"	helmet vinyl neck edging dislodged around neck opening

     lt. Had previously taken statements from witnesses regarding the details leading up to and following the crash. Officer stated that he had observed the operator of the boat, hereinafter referred to as operator, launch and operator toward a set of buoys toward the west end of the lake. He stated that he watched him rev up the engine and the let off the accelerator before accelerating and making the turn around the buoy. He rounded the buoy picking up speed traveling toward the east end of the lake. The distance between the west buoy and the east end of the lake was approximately 400 yards where the crash occurred. 
     according to officer, operator had gone out of sight of the group behind an island. It was reported that his engine then went silent. He stated that a 'pickup' boat operator went out to the area and promptly returned. He could tell by the pickup boat operator's actions that there was an emergency. He and witness, a registered nurse, got in the pickup boat and went out behind the south side of the island. 
     he stated he observed operator floating face up in the water next to his overturned mini hydroplane. He and witness jumped out of the pickup boat and pulled him to the shore where he removed his helmet, including his hans device. Witness and he performed cpr on operator. They continued until he was transported. 
     i gathered a group of boat operators several of whom stated they had 40 years' experience each, racing and working on mini hydroplane boats and motors. I conducted a digitally recorded interview with the men. I recorded each of their names, addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth. 
     individual 1 stated he was the driver of the pickup boat. He stated the pickup boat was an aluminum jon boat that was on the shore in front of his boat trailer. Individual 2 stated that when he heard victim's boat engine stop it was cause for concern, but not necessarily an emergency as the crash had not been visible to any of the group. He immediately walked down to the boat and went to the island. He stated he had observed his boat upside down in the water. He stated that operator was face down in the water immediately next to the boat. He said he approached him and shook him while calling his name. He stated he realized he needed help and returned to the north shore for help. 
     i noted an inconsistency with the his statement that victim was floating face down and individual 2's statement that he was floating face up when they returned. On may 27, 2021 contacted him by telephone, and he was aware of the inconsistent observations. He stated that believed that he was either mistaken on his first observation or that victim may have been on his side and it made it unclear his exact position. He did state that he believed that his head was turned to the side on his first observation. 
     the men explained the mechanics of the boat to me and what the damage on the boat did or did not indicate in terms of what may have occurred. The group of men relayed scenarios for each piece of evidence of damage to the boat. 
     the discussion revealed no obvious evidence of mechanical failure that would have led to a catastrophic event. The group advised that had the boat struck a fixed or floating object in the water there would be visible evidence, if not devastating damage to the boat. They commented that the broken portion of the sponson on the port side was minimal compared to the damage that would be evident if the boat had struck a fixed or floating object in the water. Neither fixed nor floating obstructions were noted in the area of the crash by any of the boat operators. 
     the noted damage to the boat is consistent and lends itself to a sudden stop of the boat causing the driver to be thrown forward into the steering wheel and windshield. The damage on the muffler indicates the bottom side of the muffler bell struck a hard surface with great force.    
     scuff marks on top of the operator's helmet are consistent with a dark colored object striking the top of the helmet. The muffler was painted black and there was no evidence of any other object in the water which the muffler could have struck other than the top of the helmet. Damage to vinyl strip around the face and neck portion of the helmet is consistent with the helmet being forced under the water with great force.  
     the frayed and broken tiedown rope is consistent the lower unit of the motor striking an object with great force causing the lower unit of the motor to raise up. This is consistent with the broken tiedown rope. 
     the group stated that the boat's speed at the time of the crash could have been as fast as 80 mph to 90 mph. The weather of the day was clear to partly cloudy and no breeze earlier in the day to light breeze in the afternoon. There was n


BARDID: IN-2021-0015
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-05-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:53:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Monroe
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
AccidentCause2: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:  
A collision between two boats resulted in one male's arm being broken.  

On may 30th, 2021, at approximately 1653 hours, i, indiana conservation officer, responded to a call from central dispatch that two boats collided and one boat left the scene and went to the allen's creek boat ramp with a male with a possible broken arm. 

I arrived at the allen's creek boat ramp and located the boat that left the scene, a pontoon boat, i spoke to witnesses that advised that the boat operator was backing the boat into a spot on the water to tie up with other boats when operator1 put his arm between the stern of the boat he was operating and the bow of another boat, to keep the boats from colliding and the resulting impact between the two boats caused operator1 to fractured his left arm on the rails of the boat he was operating. 

The group on operator1's boat then transported operator1 to the boat ramp where he was driven to iu health Bloomington by the owner of the boat operator1 was operating, and the rest of the group stayed with the boat. 

This information was confirmed with the owner of the other boat involved in the collision. Both boats were inspected for damage and photographed. The only damage visible to the boats were minor scuffs. Corporal interviewed operator1 at iu health bloomington and confirmed victim fractured his left arm. Information was taken for a boat accident report.  
   


BARDID: IN-2021-0016
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:34:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Michigan City
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
VESSEL 1 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 2-3 KNOTS PER HOUR WEST. GUST OF WIND CHANGES VELOCITY OF VESSEL 1. OPERATOR ERROR IN FAILURE TO CORRECT VELOCITY CHANGE RESULTED IN VESSEL 1 COLLIDING WITH VESSEL 2. SQUEEZE OF VESSEL 2 BETWEEN DOCK AND VESSEL 1 CAUSES GUNWALE CRACKING ON BOTH SIDES OF VESSEL 2 NEAR AFT END. NO INJURIES OBSERVED OR REPORTED DUE TO ACCIDENT.


BARDID: IN-2021-0017
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:17:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Lake
NearestCityorTown: Liberty
County: Union
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
AccidentCause2: Excessive speed
MachineryFailure: Shift
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On sunday, june 6th, 2021, at approximately 5:27 pm., i, indiana conservation officer, was contacted about a boat accident that took place on brookville lake.  I was advised that the operator of boat 1 was heading back to the quakertown marina to his dock.    
      
At approximately 6:00 pm, i arrived at the quakertown marina to meet boat owner and operator (boat 1). 
           
Operator 2 advised he was stationary out in the main portion of the brookville lake approximately 100 yards outside the quakertown idle zone. O1 advised that he was stationary on his houseboat when the owner and operator of boat 2, later identified was attempting to pull his pontoon boat up next to the houseboat.  Operator 1 advised he believed 2 was approaching his houseboat too fast in the water conditions and the pontoon boat struck the houseboat on the starboard side.  Operator 1 advised that he heard his wife yell out just before the accident that operator 2's reverse doesn't work.  Operator 1's wife, later identified (witness) advised she heard the same thing before the accident occurred.  Operator 1 advised that after he hit his houseboat that he pulled away and stopped stationary near them.  Operator 1 advised that operator 2's wife, later identified got out of their pontoon boat and swam their insurance card over to the just in case it was needed for a report.  
         
Pictures were taken of the damage to boat 1's starboard side houseboat pontoon. 
          
A short time later i made contact by telephone with owner and operator of boat 2. Operator 2 advised that they had already left brookville lake and were near batesville.  He advised he wasn't told by operator 1 that he needed to stay after they exchanged insurance information so they left.  Operator 2 advised that he was attempting to pull up next to the houseboat to dock next to them when the accident occurred. Operator 2 advised that he was approaching the houseboat at approximately 10mph. Operator 2 also advised that his pontoon boat's "reverse was out and not working" when the accident occurred.       
   
After talking with operator 2 on telephone i talked with (witness) and wife of boat owner and operator 2.  She  advised that they were attempting to pull up next to the houseboat to dock next to them when the accident occurred.  She advised their  "reverse doesn't work and having trouble with it."  she also advised that the water was a "little choppy and coming in to fast."   she advised again that the water was a "little choppy" and operator 2 was approaching the houseboat "too quick" and the boat wouldn't go into reverse good."  operator 2 advised that they struck their pontoon boat on the port side near the swim ladder and the houseboat on the starboard side pontoon.     
      
Operator 2's wife took a picture of the damage to their pontoon boat.  The picture shows damage to the handle and steps on the swim ladder.


BARDID: IN-2021-0019
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 20:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Ohio River
NearestCityorTown: Jeffersonville
County: Clark
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Fall in vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
On june 15, 2021 i, indiana conservation officer, was notified by my dispatch that a boat accident had just occurred at approximately 2015 hours on the ohio river. I was currently out of town for training and asked dispatch to send the local pd to the scene to assist and obtain an initial report. Jeffersonville fire and police department responded to the scene. I notified them that i would follow up with everyone involved at a later time. 
	on june 26, i spoke with the operator/owner of the 2000 18ft bryant with the hull identification number bra18123k900 (boat 2). I asked operator2 to walk me through what happened from the best of his recollection. He stated he and two of his friends were at the boat club in louisville playing tennis. He said they had left the club and headed upstream to "party cove" on the indiana side of the river at approximately mile marker 597. 

He said he approached party cove at a diagonal angle from the kentucky side of six mile island and at which time he did not see a boat close to him coming up the channel on the indiana side of six mile island. He started to slow his speed waiting for a couple boats to enter and exit the cove. He stated he was slowly approaching the cove for about a minute or two. He then heard his passenger yell "boat" and within seconds they were hit by another boat. 

I asked where everyone was sitting in his boat. He stated that he was in the captain's chair, v2 subject1 was in the port (left) side passenger seat, and v2 subject2 was on the back bench seat. He stated that he believed the boat hit his boat on the back left side. I asked if any alcohol was consumed prior to the incident and he stated he had not had any alcohol. I asked him how long he has been operating a boat. He stated he has been operating this boat for approximately 2 years and has been operating other boats for many years. He stated he has not taken any type of boater's education course before. I asked what injuries he sustained and he stated he has a welp/cut on his forehead, laceration on his head, gash on his back, and abrasions on his shoulder and legs. 

               on june 26, i spoke with v2 subject2, who was identified as a passenger on boat 2. V2 subject2 stated he was sitting in the back bench seat of the boat. He stated they were coming from the south of the river on the kentucky side of six mile island and turned across heading diagonal towards the cove. He stated there weren't that many boats on the river, however he has a recollection that there was another boat on their left side after they cleared the island. As they approached the cove he noticed one boat going in the cove and another heading out of the cove and said the drive of his boat started slowing down. At that point he looked over his shoulder and noticed the bow of boat 1 right next to their boat. He said he believes he was knocked unconscious at some point and doesn't remember anything until he was woken up by the other passenger on his boat, v2 subject1. I asked him was injuries he sustained, and he stated he had a gash on his forehead and his hips/thigh/shoulder were swollen and bruised. 

             on june 26, i spoke with v2 subject1, who was identified as a passenger on boat 2. I asked him to walk me through what happened. He stated they were heading upriver towards party cove. He said they passed six mile island and pulled up towards the cove. He stated as they slowed down he turned around and looked behind them for other boats and immediately noticed a larger boat about to collide with them. He yelled boat and the two boats collided. I asked him what injuries he sustained and he stated he had six lacerations on his hands, laceration on his right knee, and cuts all over his body from glass. 


On june 26, i spoke with the operator/owner of boat 1. I asked him to walk me through what happened. He stated he was in a 40ft sea ray heading up the indiana side of six mile island. He stated they were idling along at approximately 12 mph (2500-2800rpm). He stated as he cleared the island, it was pretty active around the entrance of party cove. He stated he had a spotter in the port side passenger seat. He noticed two boats heading his direction on his starboard (right) side coming from other side of the island. He noticed a runabout paralleling him, appearing to be heading towards the bridge upriver. 

Operator1 put his attention towards party cove to watch the boats coming out and entering the main channel where he was. He said he looked back to his starboard side to see where the small runabout boat went and noticed it had gotten closer to him and turned directly towards party cove in his path. He said the occupants of boat 2 were all looking away. He stated it looked like he had enough room to still clear them, however he still pulled his starboard throttle all the way back and cut his wheel hard right. He stated that he noticed the operator of boat 2 pull his throttle back to neutral and stopped dead in his path. 

He stated they were so close that there was nothing he could do. He said he collided with their boat just astern where boat 2's window comes down to meet the gunwale. I asked operator1 if he had taken a boaters education course before and he stated he has taken one. He stated he has been operating a boat for about 40 years on the river and has had this boat since august 2020. 

I asked him if he had consumed any alcohol and he stated he did not have anything to drink. He stated his boat sustained very little damage in plain view however will be taking his boat into the shop to have it looked at. He stated there were no injuries to him or his passengers. 

On june 26, i spoke with a passenger on boat 1. He stated they were heading upstream and noticed a small runabout running parallel to them on starboard side after they cleared the island. He stated it appeared the smaller boat was running a little faster than them and was approximately 60 yards away. He said he looked down at the speedometer and noticed the rpm's were at about 3000. He asked operator1 how fast that was and he said about 12-13 knots. He stated that he looked back up at the smaller boat and all of a sudden the smaller boat made a ninety degree hard turn across their path. They then collided with boat 2. 

On june 26, i spoke with the remaining passengers on boat 1. All they recall is that they heard operator1 start yelling at boat 2 and then heard/felt a crash of some sort. 

On june 26, i spoke with a witness on an unrelated boat on the river. I asked subject7 to walk me through what happened. He stated that the smaller boat was heading towards the cove at a slow speed and was there for a couple minutes prior to the incident. He said the larger boat was cruising along and was far behind the smaller boat. The larger boat then collided with the smaller boat and kicked the smaller boat out away to its left. 

	i was provided the initial report and photos taken by jeffersonville pd. The initial impact appeared to occur at the back left side of the boat approximately one to two feet from the back corner. Boat 1 appeared to then travel over boat 2 on the stern side and the bow of boat 1 exited boat 2 just astern of the captain's chair. Boat 2 most likely turned port side after the impact and kicked away from boat 1. The mid-ves


BARDID: IN-2021-0020
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-27 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville
NearestCityorTown: Brookville
County: Franklin
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by propeller
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:  
One female was injured in a boat accident with a motor prop on brookville reservoir.  
   
Details of investigation/ incident:  
I, indiana conservation officer, was on boat patrol in a fully marked conservation officer patrol boat on 6/27/2021 at approximately 14:45 hours. Franklin county dispatch contacted me and advised there was a boat accident that took place in front mounds state recreation area beach. They advised they are going to kent's harbor to wait for the ambulance.   
   
I arrived at kent's harbor at 14:50 hours and located the boat involved in the accident. The motorboat was a 2019 black bentley elite pontoon with ohio registration oh 3007 fx. The injured female had a large gash on her right hip. 

I asked operator1 to tell me what happened and he replied victim was tubing behind the boat and fell off. He stated, they circled the boat back around to pick victim up and a large wake boarding boat passed by creating a large wake. Operator1 stated, he saw victim duck her head under the water and when she came back up she said the prop cut her. Operator1 said the large wake of the passing boat pushed victim into the prop of their boat. He said the boat was in neutral at the time victim struck the prop.   
   
During my conversation with operator1 i observed that his eyes were red and watery and i smelled the odor of alcohol emanating from his person. I asked operator1 how much alcohol he consumed this day and he replied a few beers. 

I asked operator1 to put a life jacket on and enter my boat for standard field sobriety tests to see if he was ok to operate a boat. I conducted standard seated field sobriety test on operator1. The first test i conducted on operator1 was the horizontal gaze nystagmus test where operator1 showed 4 out of the 6 clues. Operator1 passed the finger to nose test, by showing 7 clues. I conducted the palm pat test where operator1 failed the test by showing 2 clues. Operator1 passed the hand coordination test by showing 2 clues (see attached standard seated field sobriety test field notes document). I offered operator1 a portable breath test and his bac results were 0.077 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. I advised operator1 that he did show some signs of impairment and he is not to operate the motorboat or vehicle until his bac drops.   
   
Victim was transported to the hospital by union county ems.    
   
   
 


BARDID: IN-2021-0021
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-06-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 20:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Porter
County: Porter
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:
On 6/30/21 a report came in of a boat sinking near Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan.  Officers responded to investigate the incident.  A boat accident investigation was completed.              
               
Details:
On 6/30/21 Sgt. and Lt. were patrolling on Lake Michigan by boat near the Indiana Dunes State Park. At approximately 8:45 p.m., Sgt. and Lt. heard emergency radio traffic on the marine radio from TowBoatUS, reporting a boat sinking near Burns Harbor. TowBoatUS advised the occupants in the sinking vessel were out of the water, safe on another vessel.  Sgt. and Lt. responded to the area and arrived on scene at approximately 8:48 p.m.  Sgt. documented the GPS location on the chart plotter.  Lt. observed one runabout boat with four persons on board and a TowBoatUS service boat.  The boats were located east of the Port of Indiana entrance near the corner of the break wall that turns in toward the shoreline. The boats were positioned approximately seventy five yards off the rock break wall.  Lt. observed boat parts and other debris floating in the water from the submerged vessel.  Lt. made contact with the persons in runabout and confirmed there were no injuries.           
 
Lt. made contact with Captain from TowBoatUS who witnessed the boat sink under water.  He provided GPS coordinates of N 41 39. 033  W 087 07.954.  Captain stated he observed a sheen of fuel on the water and water bubbling up where the boat sank.         
 
Lt. identified the owner and operator of the boat that sank.  The owner was identified.  Lt. had the occupants of the vessel don life jackets.  Lt. assisted Operator onto the patrol boat to obtain further information about the accident.       
 
Operator advised Lt. he and his girlfriend left Burns Ditch headed toward the Dunes State Park for the fireworks show.  Operator noticed his boat tilting to the starboard side as he past the entrance of the Port of Indiana.  He stated he observed water at that time on the floorboard of the boat near the stern.  He stated water rushed forward on the floorboard and the boat began to fill with water as he came down off throttle to slow his vessel.  Operator explained he attempted to get his boat to the shore near boaters beach before the engine died east of the Port of Indiana entrance.  

Operator realized his boat was sinking as it filled with water.  He waved his friend over who was traveling near them in another boat.  He had his girlfriend don a life jacket and he began to gather valuables in the boat to transfer to his friends boat.  Operator transferred articles to the other boat and then abandoned his boat, boarding his friends vessel.  Operator stated he watched his boat completely sink and disappear under the water.    
 
Lt. asked if he consumed any alcohol prior to the incident.  Operator stated he had not been drinking any alcohol.  Lt. administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, checking his eyes.  He did not show any signs of nystagmus while tracking officer his pen back and forth.  He did not show nystagmus at maximum deviation or prior to a 45 degree onset. Lt. could not detect any odor of alcohol on him.    
 
Lt. questioned Operator about what might have caused water to enter the boat and sink.  He was unsure and stated he had the propeller shaft packed last year. He was certain the plug for the boat was in place.  Lt. discussed salvage options with Operator.  Operator stated he would gather some friends and remove the boat.  The boat was submerged to approximately 20' under water.  Operator believed the boat was about three quarters full holding approximately 10 gallons of gas in the tank. 
 
Lt. instructed him to pick up any remaining articles and boat parts floating on the water before returning to the marina.  Lt. advised that a report would be completed documenting the boat accident.  Lt informed to make contact with Lt. when the boat was removed and salvaged. 
 Attachments:
None at this time 
Disposition:
Pending until boat is removed and cause of accident determined


BARDID: IN-2021-0022
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-07-05 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Michigan City
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
Vessel 2 was traveling at approx. 20 mph in a southwestern direction when v1 was maneuvering alongside of v2.  V2 then made a sharp right turn towards v1.  

V1 reacted to v2 turn and steered to the right attempting to avoid colliding. V1 then contacted v2 approximately mid ship in the area of the chine. 

V1 operator was knocked off v1 into the water but was able to reboard v1 at the stern.  

Statements from both operators accounts of the accident are consistent.  Damage to v1 and v2 are consistent with both operators sequence of events of the crash.  The operator of v1 was wearing a pfd at the time of the crash.  Operator and passengers of v2 were not injured.  Operator of v1 received a broken hip and face laceration as a result of the crash and was transported to the hospital.  Operator of v1 admitted to drinking four beers over a period of 4 hours and was given a pbt and registered .023%


BARDID: IN-2021-0023
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-13 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 20:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Shafer
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: White
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper lookout
AccidentCause2: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
  ON JUNE 13, 2021, I OVERHEARD WHITE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY 1 ON THE RADIO SPEAKING IN REFERENCE TO A BOAT CRASH THAT HAD OCCURRED ON LAKE SHAFER.  I HEARD DEPUTY 1 SAY THAT A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC) WAS BEING TOWED TO THE BOAT RAMP ON THE BIG MONON WITH FRONT END DAMAGE.  DEPUTY 1 ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE ONLY MINOR SCRAPES TO THE SUBJECTS WHO HAD BEEN ON THE PWC AND THAT THEY REFUSED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION.  I RESPONDED TO THE BOAT RAMP TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION.     
    I FIRST SPOKE WITH DEPUTY 1.  DEPUTY 1 ADVISED THAT HE WAS DISPATCHED TO A BOAT CRASH ON LAKE SHAFER.  DEPUTY 1 THAT A PWC HAD COLLIDED WITH A METAL PIPE AT INDIANA BEACH AMUSEMENT PARK.  DEPUTY 1 ADVISED THAT NOBODY WAS INJURED AND THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE ALCOHOL WAS A FACTOR.  DEPUTY 1 ALSO ADVISED THAT THE PWC SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS CURRENTLY BEING TOWED IN BY ANOTHER PWC.  DEPUTY 1 ADVISED THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S BOAT OUT AND SEE IF HE COULD ASSIST WITH GETTING THE BOAT TOWED IN.       
    AS I WAS TALKING TO DEPUTY 1, A PWC PULLED UP WITH A MALE OPERATOR AND FEMALE PASSENGER.  THE MALE WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS WITNESS 2 AND THE FEMALE AS WITNESS 3.  I SPOKE TO BOTH WITNESS 2 AND WITNESS 3 BRIEFLY AT THE BOAT RAMP.  THEY BOTH ADVISED THAT THEY WERE BEHIND THE PWC INVOLVED IN THE CRASH BUT NEITHER WAS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT.  THEY DID ADVISE THAT THEY WERE RIDING NEAR INDIANA BEACH IN THE AREA OF THE SWINGS.  THEY BOTH ADVISED THEY HEARD A LOUD BANG TYPE NOISE AND WHEN THEY LOOKED THEY SAW BOTH OF THE SUBJECTS WHO HAD BEEN ON THE PWC NOW IN THE WATER.  THEY ADVISED THE OPERATOR OF THE PWC INVOLVED IN THE CRASH WAS OPERATOR AND THAT THE FEMALE PASSENGER WAS – PASSENGER.  THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS WITNESS 1 ALSO RIDING WITH THEM THAT DAY ON ANOTHER PWC.  THEY ADVISED THAT WITNESS 1 WAS TOWING IN THE DAMAGED PWC WITH OPERATOR STILL ON IT AND THAT PASSENGER WAS NOW RIDING AS A PASSENGER ON WITNESS 1'S PWC.     
    AS I WAS SPEAKING TO THEM, WITNESS 1 AND PASSENGER WERE ARRIVING AT THE RAMP AND OPERATOR WAS NOW IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BOAT WHICH WAS NOW TOWING THE DAMAGED PWC.  THE SUBJECTS GOT BOTH PWCS LOADED ONTO A TRAILER AND OUT OF THE WATER.  WITNESS 1 ADVISED THAT BOTH OF THOSE PWCS BELONGED TO HIS FATHER.  I ASKED WITNESS 1 TO OBTAIN THE REGISTRATION FOR ME OF THE DAMAGED PWC WHILE I TOOK SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE.                     AFTER TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE, I ASKED OPERATOR TO SPEAK WITH ME NEAR MY PATROL VEHICLE.  I ASKED OPERATOR IF HE WAS INJURED OR IF HE NEEDED ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION AND HE STATED NO.  I ASKED HIM TO DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT HAPPENED.  OPERATOR ADVISED THAT HE WAS DRIVING THE PWC ALONG THE INDIANA BEACH BOARDWALK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DAM.  OPERATOR STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING BETWEEN THE BOARDWALK AND THE SWINGS AND THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE THROTTLE STUCK BECAUSE THE THE PWC JUST KEPT GOING TO THE RIGHT TOWARDS THE BOARDWALK AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO A METAL SUPPORT POLE FOR THE BOARDWALK.  I QUESTIONED HIM ON THE THROTTLE STICKING.  I ADVISED IF THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK AND THE PWC WAS ACCELERATING AND HE WAS STEERING AWAY FROM THE BOARDWALK, THEN THE PWC WOULD HAVE STEERED AWAY FROM THE BOARDWALK.  OPERATOR AGAIN ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE PWC WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN.  OPERATOR STATED THAT THE THROTTLE HAD STUCK A FEW TIMES ON HIM THAT DAY.  I ASKED HIM IF THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, THEN HOW FAST DID HE THINK HE WAS GOING WHEN HE STRUCK THE METAL PIPE.  OPERATOR SAID HE FIGURED HE WAS GOING ABOUT 20 MPH.      
    I THEN ASKED PASSENGER TO COME AND SPEAK WITH ME.  I ASKED HER IF SHE WAS INJURED OR NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SHE STATED THAT SHE DID NOT.  I ASKED PASSENGER TO TELL ME ABOUT THE PWC CRASH.  PASSENGER ADVISED THAT SHE WAS RIDING ON THE PWC BEHIND OPERATOR AND FOR SOME REASON HE ENDED UP HITTING THE STEEL POLE.  I ASKED HER HOW FAST SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE TRAVELING AND SHE SAID SHE HAD NO IDEA.  I PASSENGER HOW LONG SHE HAD BEEN RIDING ON THE PWC WITH OPERATOR AND SHE SAID NOT TOO LONG.  PASSENGER ADVISED THAT SHE HAD TO WORK AND DID NOT MEET UP WITH THEM UNTIL AFTER SHE WAS OFF WORK.  I ASKED PASSENGER IF AT ANY TIME OPERATOR MENTIONED TO HER OR COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PWC'S THROTTLE STICKING OR NOT WORKING RIGHT AND SHE SAID THAT HE HAD NOT.    
    I THEN SPOKE WITH BOTH HENDRESS AND CLARK AGAIN SEPARATELY AT MY VEHICLE.  I CONFIRMED WITH BOTH OF THEM THE INFORMATION THEY HAD TOLD ME EARLIER AND NOTHING HAD CHANGED WITH THEIR EARLIER VERSION.  I THEN MET WITH WITNESS 1 NEAR MY COMMISSION.  WITNESS 1 ADVISED THAT HE WAS IN FRONT OF OPERATOR AT THE TIME AND DID NOT SEE MUCH.  WITNESS 1 DID ADVISE THAT HE WAS COMING AROUND THE SWINGS WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED SO HE BASICALLY ONLY SAW THE PWC HIT THE METAL PIPE AND NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE CRASH.  I ASKED WITNESS 1 IF THERE WAS ANY ISSUES WITH THE PWC'S THROTTLE THAT HE KNEW OF AND HE STATED THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WOULD LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE FOR THAT PWC THAT IT WOULD TAKE IT A LITTLE LONGER TO IDLE DOWN AND SLOW DOWN.  WITNESS 1 ADVISED THAT OPERATOR HAD DRIVEN THAT PWC SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH IT SOMETIMES DOING THAT.  I ASKED WITNESS 1 IF HE KNEW ABOUT HOW FAST OPERATOR WAS GOING AND HE STATED PROBABLY ABOUT 20 MPH.  I ADVISED WITNESS 1 THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FOR ONLY 20 MPH AND THEN WITNESS 1 SAID MAYBE 35-40 MPH BUT THAT OPERATOR WAS NOT GOING AT FULL SPEED.  I THEN WALKED OVER TO THE PWC AND SQUEEZED THE THROTTLE A FEW TIMES AND IT SEEMED TO WORK PROPERLY.  I EXPLAINED TO WITNESS 1 THAT THE THROTTLE STICKING AND OPERATOR TURNING AWAY FROM THE PIER DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.  I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT WITH THE PWC BEING A JET DRIVE WATERCRAFT, GIVING IT THROTTLE AND TURNING AWAY FROM THE PIER WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CORRECT THING TO DO.  I TOLD HIM THAT A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT WHEN OPERATOR SAW HE WAS NOT GOING TO COMPLETE THE TURN, OPERATOR LET GO OF THE THROTTLE AND THAT IS WHY HE COLLIDED WITH THE METAL PIPE.  WITNESS 1 AGREED THAT WAS A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO LEADING UP TO THE CRASH.    
    I THEN MET WITH THE ENTIRE GROUP NEAR THE BOAT RAMP.  I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I WOULD BE COMPLETING A BOAT CRASH REPORT AND ASKED IF ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.  EVERYBODY STATED THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD AND NOBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.  I THEN THANKED THE GROUP FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND TOLD EVERYBODY THEY WERE FREE TO LEAVE WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO.


BARDID: IN-2021-0024
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-06-13 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:00:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Little Pigeon Creek
NearestCityorTown: Boonville
County: Warrick
WaterConditions: Unknown
StrongCurrent: -1
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of investigation:           
      
June 13th 2021            
(all times documented are eastern time zone)  
On june 13th 2021 i overheard radio traffic of a possible drowning on little pigeon creek which borders warrick and spencer counties.  Ico dispatch was notified and i asked that they contact an airboat operator.   From the radio traffic i could tell they were having a hard time finding a location to launch a rescue boat.                  

Officer was just getting off the water from patrolling the ohio river and had a boat with him.  He and officer both responded to the scene.  Officer1 picked up the airboat on his way to the accident location.  
            
While en route i met a fire truck with its emergency lights on.  The driver advised they were heading to the sr 161 bridge which was closer to the accident location.  I followed them and met with several first responders on the bridge.  There was a subject on the bridge that was pointed out to me as the other kayaker that was with the possible drowning victim at the time of the accident.     
      
I introduced myself and asked if he could tell me what happened.  The subject explained he and his friend went kayaking and left from a spot next to a bridge that is usually a hunting area.  

Subject1 said they had came downstream under two or three bridges before coming to a log jam. They were planning to remove their kayaks from the water and put in down stream of the obstructions blocking the creek.  The plan was to bump into the log jam sideways and then navigate over to the bank.  While trying to do so victim tipped his kayak and went under the water.         
 
When describing the events that took place and victims actions subject1 stated "he had been drinking and his movements were a little bit more overblown and im looking back at him to try to tell him to like focus on what hes doing and he falls away from the dam and goes under and from when he like hit the water i hadnt seen him at all. 

So i got out of my kayak and on top of the dam reaching down in there where i saw him fall and i immediately dont feel him at all so i , I mean i realize this isnt the best idea so i got all the way in the water while holding onto this larger limb, part of the dam and i was trying to reach my legs down kind of like feeling out for him and didnt feel him at all, and then i started to lose control so i had to and i kind of went under a little bit so i had to kind of claw my up back out.  

So after that i was like shoving my hand through the dam like further in because i didnt feel him at all and after that like it had been a few minutes i realize so i started like plunging my whole body in the middle of the dam just feeling for him but theres all these limbs and these things around me so i try to go under a couple times again and after i lost control again i was barely able to fucking find a way to punch my head through and i got back out and i still the whole time i guess still didnt fucking feel him at all.  

The only reason why i was able to get out is cause i was able like actually use my feet to push up against like the things holding up the dam i guess the best way i can explain it."    
    
During our conversation subject1 also said he was trying to text people for help and  had to walk "back stream" and found a guy on a lawn mower to help him make a call.  Reception was poor throughout the search and investigation in this area.  His first attempt to call for help he estimated was four to six minutes after victim went under water.          

While talking with him the smell i associate with someone drinking alcohol was present.  I asked him how much he had to drink and he said he had three beers and three shots of whisky.  He advised victim had been drinking quite a bit as well.  They had a thermos that he was mixing jack and coke in and when subject1 took a sip he realized it was more than half gone and told victim he needed to "let off of it".  He explained that victim had lost his cell phone while messing with his cooler behind him on the kayak. According to subject1 he liked to call people when he was drunk.          
Both subjects had limited experience kayaking and this was their first time doing so on little pigeon creek.  Victim was shirtless with american flag swimming trunks on when he went in the water.  Neither subject1 or victim were wearing life jackets.        
 
After leaving the sr 161 bridge i went north to the maxville road bridge where subject1 advised he walked to.  I walked downstream and after about 1/3rd of a mile i came to a log jam where there where several first responders.  A white kayak was upside down stuck in the logjam.  A green kayak had been brought up the bank.  The log jam stretched the entire width of little pigeon creek and was not passable by boat.          

Inside of the green sundolphin aruba 10  kayak was a blue cooler that had three empty coke cans and an empty water bottle.  There were full cans in the bottom.  In the bottom of the kayak were three empty busch light cans. There was a green cooler and thermos in the log jam that looked to be recent additions to the trash and debris on the water.    
    
I spoke with subject2 who advised he was the first to find the kayaks.  The location of the accident was very close to the property line.  According to subject2 the white kayak was sticking up vertically in the water when he found it and the green kayak was stuck under the root of a tree on the east bank.    
 
An excavator was brought to the scene and work to remove the log jam began.  This was done with a chain saw as well and the log jam was eventually removed to allow flow downstream.  The excavator could only reach about half way across the creek.  The green cooler was brought into shore by the excavator, the victims kayak moved downstream to the next strainer and was sucked under water.         
Inside the green cooler were four empty busch light cans and six full cans.  There was also a broken bottle of jack daniels 80 proof whiskey, three vacuum sealed packages of iowa smokhouse beefsticks and two smashed cans of pringles.          

Search efforts continued until shortly after dark.  At that point i called off the water based searches for the safety of the first responders.  I met with officer and we went to locate the truck victim was driving.  It was found at little pigeon parking lot 4a. The truck was a white 2000 chevy silverado.  In the bed of the truck was an empty busch light can matching the type of cans found at the accident scene.  I advised dispatch to make contact with sugar ridge fish and wildlife manager and advise her the case we were working. This office manages the little pigeon wetland properties.         


BARDID: IN-2021-0025
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-05-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 06:24:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Michigan City
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
VESSEL 1 WAS BEING OPERATED BY OPERATOR 1 AT APPROXIMATELY 28MPH.  THE STARBOARD ENGINE OF VESSEL 1 FAILED AND CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.  OPERATOR 1 AND THE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS OF VESSEL 1 WERE ABLE TO DON PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICES AND BOARD A GOOD SAMARITAN VESSEL.  VESSEL 1 BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND ULTIMATELY CAPSIZED IN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OF WATER.


BARDID: IN-2021-0026
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-05-16 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Freeman
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: Carroll
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentCause1: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM V2 OWNER'S BUSINESS PARTNER AND NEIGHBOR ON LAKE FREEMAN.  NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THAT A BOAT HAD JUST CRASHED INTO A BOAT ON THE LIFT BELONGING TO HIM AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER.  NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THAT HIS SON (WITNESS 1) HAD TALKED WITH BOTH THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 1 (V1 OPERATOR) AND THE OWNER OF VESSEL 2 (V2 OWNER).  
I ARRIVED AND SPOKE TO WITNESS 1.  WITNESS 1 DROVE ME DOWN TO THE BOAT THAT WAS STRUCK.  I TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ENGINE, THE DOCK, AND THE STERN LIGHT.  THOSE AREAS ALL HAD VISIBLE DAMAGE THAT WAS FRESH.  I ALSO PHOTOGRAPHED THE REGISTRATION FOR THE BOAT.  WITNESS 1 STATED THAT HE TALKED TO A SECOND BOAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.  THE OWNER OF THAT BOAT IS WITNESS 2.  THE SECOND BOAT WAS FISHING IN THE AREA.
AFTER I LEFT THAT ADDRESS, I MET CONTACT VIA PHONE WITH V1 OPERATOR.  HE WAS ALMOST BACK HOME IN CARMEL, IN.  I SPOKE TO V1 OPERATOR AS I PULLED INTO HIS RESIDENCE ON LAKE FREEMAN.  V1 OPERATOR TOLD ME THAT HE WAS PULLING HIS SON BEHIND THE BOAT AND HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS HIS SPOTTER.  HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND HAD NEVER BEEN ON A BOAT AND V1 OPERATOR WAS LOOKING BEHIND THE BOAT AT HIS SON WHILE SKIING.  AS HE TURNED TO OBSERVE HIS SON HE DID NOT NOTICE HOW CLOSE HE WAS COMING TO SHORE.  V1 OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO TURN HARD FROM THE BOAT LIFT THAT HE ENDED UP STRIKING.  V1 OPERATOR WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION AND THE RIGHT SIDE RUB RAIL STRUCK THE ENGINE AND THE REAR OF HIS BOAT STRUCK THE DOCK.  THE COLLISION WITH THE BOAT CAUSED THE BOAT TO ROCK FORWARD ON THE LIFT AND THAT ACTION SNAPPED THE STERN LIGHT OFF THE BIMINI TOP.  
AFTER TALKING WITH V1 OPERATOR I WALKED DOWN TO HIS BOAT ON THE LIFT AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE.  I OBSERVED THE DAMAGE TO THE RUB RAIL ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BOAT AND THERE WAS STILL A LARGE PIECE OF THE DOCK LODGED INTO THE FIBERGLASS OF V1 OPERATOR'S BOAT.  V1 OPERATOR GAVE ME HIS INSURANCE INFORMATION AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD SPOKE TO V2 OWNER ALREADY REGARDING THE INCIDENT.  
WHEN I LEFT V1 OPERATOR'S RESIDENCE, I CALLED WITNESS 2.  HE STATED THAT HE WAS FISHING NEXT TO THE DOCK THAT WAS STRUCK.  HE STATED THAT AFTER THE COLLISION WITH DOCK V1 OPERATOR'S BOAT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH HIS BOAT.  HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO HIS BOAT AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE BOATS CAME INTO CONTACT WHEN I LOOKED AT V1 OPERATOR'S BOAT.


BARDID: IN-2021-0027
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-07-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Brookville
County: Franklin
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Other
OtherAccidentEvent: Vessel destruction
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:       
      
ON SUNDAY JULY 25TH, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:01 PM., I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, WAS CONTACTED BY ICO DISPATCH REGARDING A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON BROOKVILLE LAKE.  I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BOAT IS STATIONARY IN THE HANNA CREEK PARKING LOT.
   
A SHORT TIME LATER, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER AND MYSELF ARRIVED AT THE HANNA CREEK PARKING LOT IN UNION CO. 

BOAT OPERATOR AND OWNER WAS STANDING NEXT TO HIS 1994 THOROGHBRED 26 FOOT PLEASURE BOAT, INDIANA REGISTRATION.   THE BOAT WAS STATIONARY ON THE TRAILER.   Operator POINTED TO THE FIBERGLASS AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ON THE VERY BOTTOM OF BOAT ON THE PORT SIDE NEAR THE STERN.  THE FIBERGLASS HULL OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT WAS SEPARATING OR CALLED COMPOSITE DELAMINATION.   I COULD VISUALLY SEE INSIDE OF THE BOAT'S HULL IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS WHERE THE FIBERGLASS HULL DELAMINATION WAS OCCURRING. 

DELAMINATION IS WHEN LAYERS OF FIBERGLASS CLOTH AND RESIN SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER OR FROM THE CORE SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE LAYERS.  IT USUALLY IS CAUSED BY PHYSICAL STRESS TO THE BOATS FIBERGLASS SURFACE WHICH SPLITS THE SURFACE SKIN AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE LAMINATE AND TRAVEL INTO THE CORE.  DELAMINATION CAN ALSO OCCUR FROM REPEATED SURFACE IMPACTS.   

WHILE LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT I ALSO NOTICED AN AREA INSIDE THE HULL THAT WAS PROTRUDING DOWN INTO THE FIBERGLASS BUT HADN'T PUSHED THROUGH YET.  
 
I ASKED Operator WHAT HAPPENED AND HE ADVISED THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW.  I ASKED HIM WHAT HE HIT AND HE ADVISED HE DEFINITELY KNOWS HE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING.  HE STATED THAT THE BOAT USED TO BE A "RACING BOAT" BEFORE HE PURCHASED IT.  

Operator ADVISED HE WAS OPERATING HIS BOAT IN THE MAIN BODY OF BROOKVILLE LAKE BETWEEN MOUNDS BEACH AND WOLF CREEK WHEN HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM.  HE ADVISED HE WAS UNDER POWER, OPERATING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND THE BOAT STARTED “STEERING FUNNY.”  HE ADVISED HE HAS OWNED SEVERAL BOATS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.  HE ADVISED HE HAS OWNED THE BOAT FOR THREE WEEKS AND HAS ONLY OPERATED THE BOAT TWO TO THREE TIMES ON THE WATER. 

HE BELIEVES THE PREVIOUS OWNER TEMPORARILY FIXED A PROBLEM, GEL COATED OVER IT AND ADDED FRESH PAINT AND SOLD HIM A DEFECTIVE BOAT.  

BOTH PASSENGERS, ADVISED THAT subject DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE LAKE AND THE BOAT STARTED SHAKING WHEN IT WAS UNDER POWER.  
   
UPDATE: 
Operator CONTACTED A BOAT REPAIR SPECIALIST AND SHOWED HIM THE PICTURES OF THE BOAT DAMAGE AND HE ADVISED THAT KIND OF DAMAGE IS CAUSED BY "HARD IMPACTS"  
    


BARDID: IN-2021-0028
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-07-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 00:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Wawasee
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator was operating the watercraft heading back toward his residence. The boat filled with water and sank in roughly seven feet of water. He was able to get help and was rescued off of the boat.


BARDID: IN-2021-0030
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-07-28 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 02:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Salamonie Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Largo
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
DRIVER 1 WAS APPROACHING THE DOCK WHILE OPERATING VESSEL 1.  VESSEL 2 WAS DOCKED WITH NO ONE ON BOARD.  DRIVER 1 STATED THAT VESSEL 1 "GOT AWAY FROM HIM", AND STRUCK THE PORT SIDE OF VESSEL 2 WITH THE STARBOARD SIDE OF VESSEL 1.  VESSEL 1 HAD SOME PAINT DAMAGE TO THE HULL, AND SEVERAL SPOTS THAT WERE DENTED IN.  VESSEL 2 HAD SOME GOUGES IN THE HULL, AND SEVERAL BENT AND/OR BROKEN PIECES OF RAILING.  SIX PLACES WHERE THE RAILING MEETS THE HULL (AND ARE WELDED TO THE HULL) WERE OBSERVED TO BE BROKEN.  TWO OF THE BROKEN WELDS WERE LOOSE BUT NOT BROKEN PRIOR TO THIS CRASH (ACCORDING TO OWNER OF VESSEL 2), THE REMAINING 4 BROKEN WELDS WERE STATED TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN AS A RESULT OF THIS CRASH.  OWNER OF VESSEL 2 LATER STATED THAT THE UPPER PART OF THE HULL WAS CRACKED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, AND THAT THERE IS NOW SOME WATER IN THE HULL NEAR THE BILGE.  THERE WAS ALSO A TRASH CAN ON BOARD VESSEL 2 WHICH WAS DENTED IN AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH.  WHITE PAINT TRANSFER FROM THE HULL OF VESSEL 1 WAS OBSERVED IN THE GOUGE MARK OF VESSEL 2.


BARDID: IN-2021-0031
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-08-07 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:17:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Patoka Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Birdseye
County: Orange
WaterConditions: Unknown
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Failure to vent
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On Saturday August 07th, 2021 at 12:17pm EST, I, senior Indiana Conservation Officer, received a call from slip holder at Patoka Lake Marina, regarding witnessing/hearing a boat explosion/fire at the Newton/Steward boat ramp at Patoka Reservoir in Orange County, Indiana.  
I radioed Indiana Conservation Officer's Dispatch about the fire and they notified marine units currently on Patoka Reservoir, ie Senior Indiana Conservation Officer.   
I was currently at the Hoosier Hills Marina on the other side of Patoka Reservoir, but immediately launched my patrol vessel and started towards the scene in emergency status.  From across the lake, I could see the black smoke over the treetops in the sky.  
Officer arrived within minutes arriving at 12:19pm EST.  He reported the boat fully engulfed and pushed up against the shore/rock along the Newton/Steward boat ramp.  All occupants were out of the vessel and no injuries were reported.  
At 12:33 Officer advised of a 23 month old baby on board the vessel who had a skull fracture a month ago was requested the child be checked out by the parents.  Orange County dispatched an ambulance to our location.  
   
I arrived on scene at 12:36pm EST and used my marked patrol boat to clear the area around the fire scene, with many onlookers and boats attempt to use the ramp, while we waited for the fire department to arrive and extinguish the boat fire.  
Officer had pulled his marked patrol vessel up to the courtesy dock and was on shore speaking with the boat occupants when I arrived on scene.  
Patoka Reservoir property manager and security personal blocked the top of the boat ramp so no further vessel could launch while the boat was burning.  
I took pictures once on scene from the water.  
The Orange County Volunteer Rural District 1 fire department arrived at 12:50pm and they deployed their tanker truck with two fireman and had the burnt vessel out within minutes of arriving.  
Mark's Wrecker Service out of Paoli, Indiana arrived at 1:30pm EST and was able to wench the remaining hull up into a flat bed wrecker in one piece.  Mark's took possession of the burnt hull of the boat.  
The hull number was still visible on the starboard transom:  
Painted in red/white letters on the rear transom was the boat name.  
The vessel a blue/white 1989 Monetary 1900 open bow motorboat was registered out of The Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The vessel was 19'1” in length and had a beam of 8'1”.  The vessel's capacity was 8 people.  The vessel was equipped with a 4 cylinder Mercury inboard/board motor with 175 horsepower and was carbureted.   
Witness explained she was backing their vehicle down the ramp, a white Ford Explorer (Indiana army veteran plate), with her husband Operator behind the wheel of the boat.  
They were spending the weekend at Patoka Reservoir, camping in the modern campground on site 192.  Therefore, everyone road in the back of the boat to the ramp.  
Operator stated once his wife backed the boat in the water, he started the blower fan and cranked over the motor, and it started but the motor quickly died.  Therefore, he attempted to start the boat motor a second time and that's when the explosion happened.  
Operator stated he was thrown into the bow section of the boat. Seven-year-old, who was seated on the engine cover was also thrown into the bow section.  He was wearing his USCG approved life jacket at the time of the explosion.  
The boat was already unhooked from the Ford Explorer and backing off the trailer when the explosion happened.  Operator screamed for everyone to get off the boat and everyone jumped into the water on the ramp as the boat became fully engulfed.  
The wave action from the lake then pushed to boat on fire towards the ramp, resting it on the rocks to the right of the ramp, where it burned.  
Occupants stated they had been out on the boat all last weekend on the Ohio River and did not have any problems with the boat.  
Witness stated they had just filled up the boat prior to bringing it to Patoka, mentioning they put in twenty gallons using her Casey rewards.


BARDID: IN-2021-0032
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-08-14 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Mississinewa Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Wabash
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Unknown
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON AUGUST 14TH, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1428 HOURS I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, WAS ADVISED BY WABASH CENTRAL DISPATCH ABOUT A SINKING BOAT ON MISSISSINEWA RESERVOIR.  WABASH CENTRAL DISPATCH SAID THE BOAT WAS LOCATED BETWEEN PEARSON MILL BOAT RAMP AND RED BRIDGE.     
   
AT APPROXIMATELY 1503 HOURS, I LOCATED THE SUNKEN BOAT AND TALKED WITH THE BOAT OWNER.  HE SAID AT APPROXIMATELY 1315 HOURS HE LAUNCHED HIS BOAT ON THE MISSISSINEWA RESERVOIR.  He OPERATED THE BOAT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN ANCHORED THE BOAT TO SWIM.  Operator SAID HE SWAM FOR ROUGHLY 10 MINUTES.  HE PULLED THE ANCHOR AND THEN ATTACHED HIS BOAT TO TWO OTHER BOATS THAT WERE ANCHORED NEAR HIM.  WHILE HE WAS TYING HIS BOAT TO THE OTHER BOATS, A CHILD STEPPED ON THE BACK OF HIS BOAT AND WATER STARTED TO COME OVER THE REAR OF THE BOAT.  Operator NOTICED THE BACK PART OF HIS BOAT APPEARED TO BE SINKING SO HE TRIED TO START THE ENGINE.  THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START SO THE BOAT WAS PULLED TO THE NEAREST SHORE SO IT WOULD NOT SINK COMPLETELY.  

Operator SAID HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH THE BOAT, AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED THIS YEAR.  I TOOK PICTURES OF THE BOAT (ATTACHED) AND WAS INFORMED BY Operator THAT THE PLUG WAS IN THE BOAT.  

AUGUST 15TH 2021

AT APPROXIMATELY 1136 HOURS he ADVISED ME HE RETRIEVED THE BOAT FROM THE WATER.  AT APPROXIMATELY 1215 I MET WITH him AT MIAMI BOAT RAMP AND I LOOKED OVER THE BOAT.  IT APPEARED TO NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE ON THE HULL (BOTTOM) OF THE BOAT.


BARDID: IN-2021-0033
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-08-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:03:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Pine Lake
NearestCityorTown: LaPorte
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On august 15 2021 i, indiana conservation officer, was on patrol in la porte county when i was notified of a possible boating related injury occurring on pine lake. The initial call went out at approximately 1700 of a subject in the water from la porte county dispatch. The dispatcher stated that they were unsure if the victim was conscious or if they had a life jacket on. The dispatcher also stated that the person may have been injured in a tubing accident. Ico and i responded with ico arriving on scene approximately 15 minutes prior to me. While en route the dispatchers advised that la porte city fire department had two boats on the water to affect a rescue.

I arrived on scene and observed the victim being loaded into an ambulance. I asked victim to briefly describe what happened. Victim stated that he was being pulled on a tube on the lake when the tube flipped causing him to impact the water. Victim stated that he did not know how fast he was going but thought he may have briefly lost consciousness, felt pain in his neck, and felt numbness in his left arm. Victim was currently wearing a life jacket and stated that he was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. Victim stated that he feared he may have had a spinal cord injury, so he requested to be left in the water while awaiting ems. 

I asked victim who was operating the boat. Victim stated that "subject" was the operator and that his wife was also onboard the boat at the time. I then asked victim to describe the boat this happened with. Victim stated the boat was a 1993 mastercraft 205 which was white and blue in color. I asked victim if he or the boat operator has been consuming alcohol. Victim stated that they had all started drinking around 1400 but not to intoxication. Victim was then transported to the la porte hospital.

I then attempted to contact the two personnel left on the boat involved. The boat was not in the immediate area. One of the emts that responded was knew "subject" personally and gave me her phone number. I called the number and a woman answered the phone. Operator stated that she and victim's wife  were attempting to tie the boat off to a dock but she didn't know the address. She told me the general area on the north east side of the lake where they were located and i started to head in that direction. I asked operator who was operating the boat. Operator stated that she was the boat operator at the time of the incident. 

Operator called me back a few minutes later and stated that they had the boat tied up and were waiting for me. I arrived at the address a few moments later. As i began talking with operator and victim’s wife it became apparent that they had been drinking. I could smell alcohol on their breath. I collected operator and victim’s wife's identification. I then started to ask operator questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident. Operator then stated that she was not the operator, and that victim’s wife was the operator at the time of the incident. Victim’s wife then stated that she was the operator at the time of the incident. I told them both that victim already told me that operator was the operator and that operator told me on the phone she was driving at the time of the incident. Operator apologized for lying and stated she was afraid of getting in trouble for drinking while operating the boat. I then offered operator a portable breath test and she tested at .02% bac. 

I then asked operator to tell me what happened. Operator stated that she was pulling victim on a tube in the middle of the southern portion of pine lake. She was making a left-hand turn which caused victim to swing out towards the right. Operator stated that she was traveling approximately 10-15 mph when the tube flipped, and victim went under. Operator stated that she didn't immediately know something went wrong until victim told them to call 911. Operator stated she had approximately 5-10 hours of boat operator experience and the water was choppy. 

I then victim’s wife to describe what happened. She stated the same details as operator but added that she may have caught the incident on video. I asked her to show me the video. The video showed mostly victim’s wife's legs inside the boat but did show victim in the water on his back after the incident. Through the audio you can hear victim telling them to shut the motor off and call 911. 

I then inspected the boat in question, in 3815 eb, which appeared to be in good working order. There were several containers of alcohol on the boat. The line used to pull the tube was frayed and partially separated. I took several photographs of the boat. No damage was sustained to the boat. The water appeared to be relatively calm with light wind. The weather was clear, and visibility was good. 

The insurance carried on the boat was state farm. A follow up call to victim on 8/18/2021 revealed that he still did not know the full extent of his injuries. Victim stated that there may be some possible nerve damage to his left arm, but further testing would be required.


BARDID: IN-2021-0034
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-08-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:20:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Hamilton Lake
NearestCityorTown: Hamilton
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of the investigation:

On saturday 8/21/21, steuben county dispatch put out a call of a boat accident on hamilton lake involving a boat and a pwc.  The initial report was that a boat struck a pwc and there were two subjects in the water.  While in route, i learned that the subjects had been removed from the water and both the boat and pwc had left the scene.  The boat was described as a maroon and white runabout style boat with a maroon bimini top.  The pwc was described as purple.

I spoke to hamilton pd officer while in route.  I gave him the descriptions of both watercraft and he advised he would go out on the lake in the hamilton pd patrol boat to look for the watercraft involved.  I advised him that i would head to the hamilton lake public access site to see if either watercraft were there.
While patrolling just north of hamilton at approximately 7600 sr 427 (across from hamilton lake marina), i noticed a boat matching the description parked at a dock with multiple subjects standing around the boat.  I stopped my commission in the roadway and approached the subjects on the dock.  I asked them if they happened to have been involved in a boat accident recently.   They stated they had.  I could see damage to plastic on the starboard side of the boat near the driver's windshield area as well as fiberglass damage to the bow of the starboard and port sides.  I asked what happened.  Operator 2 stated that he was operating the boat (he was also the boat owner) when his nephew struck his boat with a pwc that he was operating.  He stated that he was sitting stationary in the boat with passengers (all listed above) and operator 1 was attempting to pull alongside on the pwc.  Also on the pwc was passenger (girlfriend).  As the pwc got close to the boat, a wave caused girlfriend to begin to fall off the back.  He attempted to hold onto the steering controls and hit the throttle accidentally causing the pwc to accelerate quickly into the starboard side of the boat.  The pwc struck the boat and rode up over the bow of the boat landing across the port side back in the water.  Operator 2 stated there were two passengers in the bow of the boat at the time of the accident.  The pwc went over the top of victim without making any contact however it struck victim 2 in the head.  Victim 2 was standing near operator 2 and i asked him if he was ok.  He stated that he had a bump on his head which i observed.  It appeared to be red but not bleeding.  I asked him if he needed medical attention and he said that he thought he was alright.  I asked steuben county to start medics to clear him since there was a head injury involved.  

I identified everyone associated with the boat and obtained the registration.  I asked where operator 1 and the pwc were and was told they had left the scene approximately five to ten minutes prior to my arrival and were headed home.  I was told that operator 1 was very shaken up over the incident. 

At about this time, officer was back on land as i had advised that i had found the involved parties.  I asked officer to stand by with the occupants of the boat while operator 2 led me to a parking lot nearby where the pwc had already been loaded on a trailer.  I advised that i had called for medics to have victim 2 checked out.  I also advised that the pwc operator had left the scene.  I asked officer to call operator 1 and have them return.  

I followed operator 2 to the parking lot and took photographs of the involved pwc.  He stated that after the accident occurred, he jumped into the water while operator 1 got into the boat.  He had them ride in the boat back to shore and he drove the pwc to the public access site and pulled it out of the water before bringing it to its current location in the lot across from hamilton lake marina.  He handed me a registration for the pwc which showed registered.  Operator 2 stated that he was a co-owner of the pwc with him.  I did not notice any significant damage to the pwc.  There were a few paint scrapes near the bow around the water line and a few fresh scrapes to the registration decals on the starboard side. 
 
I went back to the boat and took photographs of it as well.  By this time, medics with hamilton fire rescue were on scene attending to victim 2.  I was told by medics that he had refused any further treatment.  Officer advised me that he had got ahold of operator 1 and he and girlfriend were on their way back to the scene.  Officer stated that when he talked to operator 1 on the phone, he did not sound intoxicated.  

I advised operator 2 and the boat passengers they were free to leave, and i went and waited in my commission for operator 1 to arrive back on scene.  At approximately 4:35 pm, they arrived back on the scene.  I met with both and asked what had happened.  His story was consistent with what everyone else had told me previously.  He stated that he was very inexperienced with operating pwc's (this was his first time).  He and girlfriend both stated they had no injuries, and they did not need medics.  I did not suspect alcohol was a factor as i did not have any signs of impairment from him.  I asked him if he had any alcohol at all to drink that day (as he was under 21) and he stated he had not.  I did not offer him a pbt.  

I informed operator 1 that state law requires him to report boating accidents and we discussed why that is important for responding units.  I advised him we need a call so we can complete a report for damages as well as make sure involved parties received medical attention if needed.  He stated that he didn't think about that and that his uncle was the boat and pwc owner who was not concerned about the damage done.  I wrote operator a warning for failure to report a boat accident and cleared from the scene.

Applicable statutes (optional)

14-15-4-2 - fail to report boat accident

Motive: (optional)

N/a

Modus operandi: (optional)

N/a

Additional leads: (optional)

N/a

Attachments:

14 scene photos (i: drive)

Current disposition:

Forwarded to lt. For report approval.


BARDID: IN-2021-0035
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-08-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 23:36:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Lemon
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Other
OtherAccidentEvent: Person caught in vessel equipm
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER (ICO) CPL. ON AUGUST 21, 2021 AT OR ABOUT 1136 HOURS WAS DISPATCHED TO LAKE LEMON IN MONROE COUNTY FOR A BOAT ACCIDENT.  I MADE CONTACT WITH COMPLAINANT.   
SHE ADVISED HER SIGNIFICANT OTHER WAS PULLING THE TROLLING MOTOR OUT OF THE WATER WHEN THEIR BOAT WAS HIT BY A LARGE WAKE.  THE WAKE CAUSED HIM TO LOSE GRIP ON THE TROLLING MOTOR AND DROP IT.  WHEN HE DROPPED THE TROLLING MOTOR HIS LEFT HAND WAS ON THE MOUNT OF THE TROLLING MOTOR.  HIS LEFT RING FINGER WAS IN THE TRACK THAT THE TROLLING MOTOR SLID UP AND DOWN IN.  WHEN THE TROLLING MOTOR FELL BACK INTO THE WATER HIS FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN THE TRACK AND IT CAUSED HIS LEFT RING FINGER TO BE CUT OFF FROM THE FINGER NAIL UP.   
NORTHERN MONROE FIRE AND EMS RESPONDED.  THEY ASSISTED IN STOPPING THE BLEEDING AND GETTING HIS BOAT BACK ONTO THE TRAILER. SHE THEN TRANSPORTED HIM TO MONROE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT IN THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE.  THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES IN THIS ACCIDENT.  


BARDID: IN-2021-0036
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-07-24 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Wawasee
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Failure to vent
AccidentCause2: Ignition of spilled fuel or vapor
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On Saturday, July 24, 2021, I, Indiana Conservation Officer, responded to a boat that had reportedly caught fire in the channel near the Wawasee Boat Company on Lake Wawasee.  Boat owner and operator reported that after putting approximately 100 gallons of gasoline in his boat at the Wawasee Boat Company he attempted to start the dual engine vessel.  Operator reported he successfully started the starboard engine. He then reported in an attempt to start the port engine, it combusted starting a fire.  It should be noted that he did report his blowers were turned on while attempting to start the engine.  All occupants of the vessel were shuttled to shore.  Two female occupants were transported to Ft Wayne Lutheran Hospital and treated for second degree burns.      
        The Syracuse Fire Department controlled the fire on the vessel.  The vessel eventually sank, putting out the fire entirely.  The Syracuse Fire Department deployed gas and oil containment booms in attempt to minimize pollution into the water.  He reported that his insurance company, Boat U.S with policy number, had made arrangements with Great Lakes Marine Service to remove the vessel on 7/27/2021.  Alcohol was not a contributing factor to this incident.  


BARDID: IN-2021-0037
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-08-28 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:27:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Equipment failure
EquipmentFailure: Auxiliary
OtherEquipmentFailure: Generator
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER (ICO), WAS PATROLLING IN MONROE COUNTY ON MONROE RESERVOIR IN THE AREA OF FAIRFAX, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 1727 HOURS, WHEN I WAS DISPATCHED BY ICO DISPATCH FOR A BOAT THAT WAS ON FIRE IN THE AREA OF CUTRIGHT. I ARRIVED IN THE CUTRIGHT AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 1735 HOURS TO FIND A 1992 BAJA  THAT HAD BEEN ON FIRE.  I LOCATED THE OWNER OF THE 1992 BAJA, A WHITE MALE LATER IDENTIFIED BY NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, ON A DIFFERENT BOAT. 
I SPOKE WITH Operator WHO EXPLAINED HE BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS OUT.  I HAD SOMEONE VOLUNTEER TO HELP TOW THE 1992 BAJA OVER TO THE DOCKS AT CUTRIGHT.  THE VOLUNTEER DONNED A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD) AND BOARDED MY BOAT.  THE VOLUNTEER AND I WERE ABLE TO TOW THE BOAT OVER TO THE DOCKS AT CUTRIGHT.  ONCE AT CUTRIGHT, MONROE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT (MCFD) FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARDED THE 1992 BAJA TO DEAL WITH THE FIRE SITUATION.   
I WENT BACK TO THE BOAT WAS ON, SO I COULD SPEAK WITH HIM.  ON MY WAY OVER TO PICK UP Operator, THE OTHER OCCUPANTS ON THAT BOAT BEGAN YELLING THAT SOMEONE ON THEIR BOAT WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION.  I HAD Operator DON PFD AND BOARD MY BOAT SO I COULD TRANSPORT THEM TO CUTRIGHT.  INDIANA UNIVERSITY LIFE LINE GROUND (EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE {EMS}) AMBULANCE MET US AT THE CUTIRGHT BOAT RAMP WHERE HE WAS CHECKED OUT BY THEM.
Operator EXPLAINED THAT THEY, HE AND HIS WIFE, WAS OPERATING THE 1992 BAJA BACK TO CUTRIGHT FROM MOORE'S CREEK AREA WHEN THEY APPROACHED THE IDLE ZONE AND SLOWED DOWN.  HE STATED THAT WHEN THE 1992 BAJA SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO COME OFF PLANE HE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM SIDE VENTS.  Operator SAID HE TOLD WIFE, WHO WAS OPERATING, TO TURN ON THE VENTILATION BLOWER.  SHE TURNED ON THE VENTILATION BLOWER.  HE STATED THEY BEGAN USING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON BOARD. 

HE EXPLAINED THAT Witness ENTERED THE ENGINE SPACE WHERE THE FIRE WAS AT AND USED SEVERAL MORE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT (8) FIRE EXTINGUISHERS USED. 
AFTER BEING CHECKED OUT BY EMS, Witness SIGNED A STATEMENT OF REFUSAL FOR TRANSPORT AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE AMBULANCE.
MCFD FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED IT APPEARED THE FIRE STARTED NEXT TO THE GENERATOR AND BURNED UP AN OLD BOX ALONG THAT CONTAINED RAGS AND OIL.  MCFD FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO STATED SOME FIBERGLASS NEAR THE "FIREWALL" BURNED AS WELL.  
Operator STATED HE HAD THE GENERATOR RUNNING ALL DAY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON.   HE EXPLAINED HE BELIEVED THAT FIRE STARTED EITHER NEAR THE GENERATOR OR THE GENERATOR WAS ON FIRE.  
AFTER THE MCFD FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT FIRE WAS OUT, HE TOWED THE 1992 BAJA BACK TO HIS SLIP AT TWO HERONS MARINA.  
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021
I SPOKE WITH HIM AND OBTAINED HIS INSURANCE (PROGRESSIVE) DOCUMENTATION FOR THE 1992 BAJA.  Witness WAS PRESENT WHEN I WAS SPEAKING WITH Operator AND HE STATED HE FELT MUCH BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE.


BARDID: IN-2021-0038
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-08-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Brookville
County: Franklin
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Overloading
AccidentCause2: Weather
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
ON 8/26/2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 18:00 HOURS FAIRFIELD MARINA STAFF OBSERVED AN INVERTED PONTOON BOAT. THE PONTOONS WERE THE ONLY PART OF THE BOAT OBSERVED OUT OF THE WATER. THE PONTOON BOAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE MOORING BUOY.   
   
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, ARRIVED AT THE MARINA AT APPROXIMATELY 19:15 HOURS. I LOCATED THE 30 FOOT SUN TRACKER PONTOON WITH OHIO REGISTRATION NEXT TO ANOTHER PONTOON WITH OHIO REGISTRATION. THE SECOND PONTOON BOAT HAD NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE PONTOONS OF THE INVERTED BOAT HAD NO OBVIOUS PUNCTURES.   

TOWING OUT OF RUSHVILLE, IN WAS CONTACTED TO REMOVE THE INVERTED BOAT. TOWING SECURED THE BOAT FOR THE NIGHT AND WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE BOAT THE NEXT MORNING. THE OWNER OF THE INVERTED PONTOON WAS LATER IDENTIFIED. HE ARRIVED AT THE MARINA WITH HIS TRAILER AND HE ADVISED HE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE FOR THE PONTOON.   
   
ICO ARRIVED THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO ASSIST TOWING WITH THE RECOVERY. TOWING WAS ABLE TO FLIP THE PONTOON BOAT BACK UPRIGHT. THE PONTOON BOAT HAD A NON-FACTORY ENCLOSURE ADDED TO THE REAR PORTION OF THE BOAT. THE ADDITION APPEARED TO BE HOMEMADE. INSIDE THE ENCLOSURE IT HAD NON-FACTORY SEATS AND SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS. THE REAR PART OF THE PONTOON WAS SEVERELY OVERWEIGHT. THE WATERLINE ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE PONTOONS WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE PONTOONS. (SEE PICTURES)  
 TOWING TOOK POSSESSION OF THE PONTOON BOAT TO ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE THE BOAT AND MOTOR.


BARDID: IN-2021-0039
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-09-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:35:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Mississinewa Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Wabash
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Very Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Other
OtherAccidentEvent: Person strikes the propeller
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
On September 6th, 2021 at approximately 1437 hours I, Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO), was advised by Wabash Central Dispatch about a boat accident that occurred at Mississinewa Reservoir in Wabash County.  Wabash Central Dispatch advised a female was cut from a boat propeller and she was going to be transported to Red Bridge Marina.       
    
At approximately 1445 hours I arrived on scene.  The victim was in a White Rinker boat (IN3942EH) at the docks of Red Bridge Marina.  Victim was sitting in the back right rear portion of the boat.  There were individuals surrounding Victim on the boat applying pressure with a beach towel to her right lower leg.  The beach towel was lifted off of Victim's leg and I saw a laceration on her right leg near her knee. 
  
Victim said she was tubing with her brother.  They were done tubing and were trying to get aboard the boat.  She went to the back left portion of the boat where the ladder was located.  She started climbing the ladder when the boat moved due to rough water conditions.  She then fell off the ladder into the water towards the boat motor propeller.  She struck the propellor with her right leg.  Victim then felt pain on her leg.  It was noticed Victim had a laceration on her right leg near her kneecap.  Victim was placed in the boat and transported to the Red Bridge Marina.           
  
At approximately 1510 hours I talked with the driver of the boat. Subject2 consented to a portable breath test (PBT).  He consented to the test and the PBT results were .000 BAC   Subject2 said he was the operator of the boat during the time of the accident.  Subject2 was pulling Victim and victim’s brother.  They fell off the tube, so Subject2 operated the boat to pick up Victim’s brother and Victim.  Subject2 said he placed the boat in neutral before Victim tried to aboard the boat.  He heard the shifter click into neutral.  He looked down at the shift and saw the shift level in the neutral position.  He said he saw Victim approximately halfway up the ladder and then she fell.  He then heard Victim screaming.  She was placed into the boat and taken to Red Bridge Marina.   
  
Subject2 said his once he turns the key off on the boat it does not shut off right away. He said he must wait for it to run out of fuel before the engine shuts off.  There was a function test done on the neutral latch and it was in working order.   
  
At approximately 1545 hours the white Rinker boat (IN3942EH) was trailed out of the water and I took pictures of the propeller (attached). The propeller had minor nicks in the blades.  It is to be known that the white Rinker boat was an inboard/outboard motor or also known as sterndrive.    
  
 
Victim was transported by ambulance to Parkview Regional in Fort Wayne.  There are no criminal charges being filed.   
 The officer does not believe the propeller was spinning at the time of incident.


BARDID: IN-2021-0040
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-09-11 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Ohio River
NearestCityorTown: Newburgh
County: Warrick
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Weather
AccidentCause2: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2021, AROUND 1330 HOURS, I INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS CONTACTED BY ICO CPL., ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT HAD OCCURRED ON THE OHIO RIVER. CPL. ASKED IF I COULD GO TO WORK EARLY AND RESPOND TO A BOAT THAT HAD CAPSIZED ON THE OHIO RIVER NEAR THE NEWBURGH DAM. I WAS UNABLE TO RESPOND AT THE TIME BUT WAS ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HENDERSON KENTUCKY DISPATCH AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAD OCCURRED. 
. 	I FIRST MADE SURE THAT ALL SUBJECTS WERE OUT OF THE WATER AND SAFE AND VERIFIED THIS WITH HENDERSON DISPATCH. I THEN MADE SEVERAL OTHER CALLS WITH KENTUCKY STATE POLICE AND OUR CENTRAL DISPATCH CENTER. I MADE SURE THAT ALL INFORMATION WAS RELAYED TO OUR DISPATCH FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. 
ON 9/12/21 I MADE CONTACT WITH Operator. He STATED HE WAS OUT FISHING ON THE OHIO RIVER WITH HIS SON ON HIS BOAT JUST DOWNSTREAM OF THE NEWBURGH DAM. HE STATED THE WEATHER WAS GREAT BUT THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN, A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAME THROUGH AND CREATED BIG WAVES ON THE RIVER. IT WAS THEN THAT he DECIDED TO TRY AND LEAVE.
 
	AS Operator STARTED TO HEAD BACK TOWARDS THE RAMP, OTHER BOATS WENT BY CREATING EVEN BIGGER WAVES. Operator STATED THAT HIS BOAT CAUGHT A BIG WAVE, "ABOUT A 4 FOOT WAVE", AND AS HIS BOW CAME DOWN IT WENT UNDER THE WATER CAUSING WATER TO GO INTO HIS BOAT. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FIRST WAVE A SECOND WAVE HIT HIS BOAT. Subject STATED THE SECOND WAVE WAS EVEN BIGGER, "ABOUT A 6 FOOT WAVE". WHEN THE SECOND WAVE HIT HIS BOAT, THE STERN OF HIS BOAT, AS IT CAME DOWN TOOK ON EVEN MORE WATER. 
	Operator STATED HE HEADED STRAIGHT IN FOR THE SHORE AND AS HE REACHED THE EDGE OF THE SHORE THE BOW CAME UP OUT OF THE WATER AND HIS STERN TOOK ON MORE WATER CAUSING THE BOAT TO SINK AND ROLL OVER. BOTH he AND HIS SON WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY OUT OF THE WATER AND ONTO SHORE. He WAS ABLE TIE THE BOAT OFF TO A TREE FROM THE SHORE SO THAT IT WOULD NOT FLOAT AWAY. 
	Operator STATED ONCE THE WEATHER CALMED DOWN, HE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE BOAT AND WITH THE ROPE THAT WAS TIED TO IT, PULLED IT TO ANGEL MOUNDS BOAT RAMP WHERE A TOW TRUCK WAS ABLE TO TURN THE BOAT RIGHT-SIDE UP AND HAUL IT OUT OF THE WATER. THE PICTURES PROVIDED WERE TAKEN BY him. NO LIFEJACKETS WERE BEING WORN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.


BARDID: IN-2021-0041
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-09-18 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:58:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Jimmerson Lake
NearestCityorTown: Fremont
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by propeller
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On 9-18-21, at approximately 4:09 pm, i, indiana conservation officer cpl., was contacted by steuben county communications, and asked to respond to a boating accident on jimmerson lake in steuben county, indiana.  I was advised that there were two victims who had been struck by the boat and struck by the boat's propeller, and the operator of the boat may be intoxicated.  I was told that the victims were out of the water and the boat had pulled up to a dock.      
       
At approximately 4:20 pm i arrived in the area and saw an ambulance.  I parked my truck at this address and as i exited my truck and was heading down the hill to the dock, i was met by two subjects, who were standing.  I asked subject1 if he was involved in the accident and he advised me he wasn't but pointed to a male sitting on a chair on their deck with a young girl.  I approached operator, identified myself, (i was in full uniform) and asked him if he was involved in the accident.  He nodded in the affirmative.  I then asked him if he was operating the boat and he advised me that he was.  At that time ems and firefighter personnel brought one of the victims up the hill past our location on the back of a golf cart.  I could tell she was in extreme pain by her cries.  I was also advised by emergency personnel that both female victims had severe lacerations to their legs and feet from being struck by the propellor of the boat.      
       
I then spoke to operator again and asked him if he had a driver's license on him.  He advised me that he did not due to his wallet being in the truck at the ramp.  I asked him if they were parked across the basin at the jimmerson lake access site, and he advised me they were.  I then asked him if he had a valid driver's license and he advised me he did not.    

I then asked him what had happened, and he advised me that he had been operating the boat and pulling the victims on an inflatable tube.  He advised me that while pulling them, the throttle of the boat stuck, and he ran into them.  I asked him how that could happen if he was pulling them behind the boat, and he advised me that he was turning towards them when that happened.  I then asked him how much he had to drink, and he advised, “2 beers, maybe 3.”  I then advised him to walk up to my truck with me so i could gather information pertaining to the accident.  I asked subjects if they could stay with the young girl, who operator advised was the daughter of one of the victims.      
       
As we arrived at my truck, operator asked me if he was going to jail.  I advised him that he was not under arrest, but rather being detained to investigate the accident. As i was walking with operator, i did not notice any apparent signs of intoxication or smell any alcohol on him. I then advised him the first thing i was going to do was administer a preliminary breath test to confirm how much alcohol he had consumed.  I then asked him if he had anything in his pockets, and he advised me he had a cell phone and some cigarettes.  I then patted him down and confirmed he did not have any weapons on him.  While patting him down i could tell that the shorts he was wearing were wet.  He was wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and work boots.  He had also carried a pair of jeans up to the truck which i also checked for weapons.      
       
I then instructed him to stand next to the rear, driver's side tire, then opened my truck to reach into the back seat to get my preliminary breath test unit (pbt) from a bag it was stored in.  When i looked back at operator he was running away from me to the west, across the road, and south of the residence.  I went to the back of my truck to see which direction he was running, called steuben county communications, and advised them that the subject was fleeing to the west, and returned to my truck.  As i was getting in my truck to go after operator the homeowner came up to me and advised me that operator had asked her to hide a cooler of beer from us and she had it.        
       
I then drove my patrol truck across the road and into the field i had watched operator run into.  I did not see him, so i drove to the southwest, which was the first available thick cover.  At this time, i also spoke with responding steuben county deputies who were responding to my location.  I parked my truck in the field and began to search the thick grass and trees.  After searching this area and not finding any sign of operator, i searched for signs of him crossing 425 west, and behind the residence.  During this time, i also coordinated with deputies who were on the road and asked deputy to go to the jimmerson lake access site and try to find the truck and trailer they had driven to the lake.      
       
A short time later deputy advised me that the husband of one of the victims had returned to the access site with the boat and was loading it up.  I asked deputy to obtain all the information that he could from subject2 and to contact bill's marathon to impound the boat and trailer.  I also contacted the indiana conservation officer's central dispatch and asked them to contact a conservation officer near ft. Wayne and have them respond to the parkview regional medical center (prmc) to interview the victims and document their injuries.  I then drove to the jimmerson lake access site.  

I spoke with deputy1 and obtained the information he had gathered from subject2, who he had released with the children.  He advised me that subject2 had checked the truck for operator's wallet but did not locate it.  He also advised that the boat and trailer belonged to subject2's wife, and one of the victims.  He also advised deputy1 that he only knew the person who had been driving the boat as operator, and did not know his last name, but provided a phone number from his phone.  Subject2 also advised that victim1 had only owned the boat for two days.      
       
The boat was a white and tan, 1984 bayliner capri, with registration number in7644ea, which expired on 9-14-21.  The hull identification number on the boat was bl1j73cr0484. An idacs check of the registration number showed that it was registered to someone else.
       
The boat trailer was a 1986 century boat trailer with michigan registration c537211, with a registration effective date of 8-3-12.  An idacs check of the trailer showed it was registered to another person.
       
The truck that the group pulled the boat to the lake with was a white, 2012 gmc sierra.  An idacs check of the truck showed it was registered to victim1.        
       
I then spoke on the phone with conservation officer, who as at prmc, and had interviewed the victims (audio recordings are included with this report.)  Victim2 first advised me that he discovered that the suspect's full name was operator, he is from out of state, but has been living with victim1 and her husband.  Victim1 owns a painting company and operator works for her.  He could not get a date of birth to obtain more information.  He also advised me that while interviewing victim1, she called operator, and he answered.  He told her he was sorry, and he tried to stop the boat.  She then convinced him to talk to officer but they either got disconnected or he hung up.  Operator then sent a picture to victim1 of himself in front of a light blue dumpster.  I advised the deputies who were in the area looking for him of the picture and the dumpster, and then drove back to speak to the witness who had taken the cooler for operator.     

      

When i arrived at 60 ln. 230 jimmerson lake i spoke with the homeowner.  Homeowner advised me that she did not see the accident but went out when she heard a female screaming.  The boat was tied up to her pier, and after providing them with some towels, she asked them if there was anything else she could do to help them.  Homeowner advised that operator asked her to take a cooler and dispose of it.  Homeowner advised the cooler was full of beer bottles, and she had no intention of disposing of it, but she took it.  When she lifted it from the boat the styrofoam cooler broke and several beer bottles fell into the lake.  Two more of the bottles then fell on the sea wall and broke as she was walking away.  After she took the cooler up to her house, operator came to her door with the broken glass from the beer bottles that he had put into his hat and ask her to throw the glass away.  Homeowner then took me to her garage and showed me the broken styrofoam cooler.  It contained 3 corona beer bottles, 6 smashed twisted tea cans, 1 bottle of yahoo, and plastic container with lunch meat and cheese.  I placed the items in a trash bag and took them from her.  I later disposed of the items after taking photographs.  I then asked her if the witnesses next door were home.  This was 80 ln. 230, where operator had originally been when i arrived.  Homeowner advised me that they had left but left their names and a phone number to reach them. I then continued to look for operator until dark without success.     

      

The next morning, sunday, 9-19-21, i reviewed the audio recordings of the victim's statements that were sent to me by officer.  Officer interviewed both victims at the emergency room of prmc the night before.     

      

Officer first interviewed victim1.  Victim1 suffered deep lacerations to her left foot and big toe (pictures are included with this report).  Victim1 advised that they were out on the lake tubing and her husband advised operator to go towards the truck in case something happens. (this would reference going into the 3rd basin of jimmerson lake where the jimmerson lake access site is located and where the accident occurred.)  Victim1 then advised that her and subject2 then decided to get on the tube together.  She stated that while they were going “he just turned the boat towards us and came straight at us.”  She stated that subject2 bailed off the tube, then she did.  She then stated that she could feel her foot get chopped up by the propeller and subject2 was screaming.  They were both then pulled into the boat and went shore.       

      

She stated that the people in the boat were her, subject2, subject3, operator, her 4-year-old daughter subject4, her 6-month-old baby subject5, and a small dog.  Victim1 then informed officer that operator lives with her and subject3, and ever since he moved in, he has been obsessed with her.  Operator tells her that he wants her, and he loves her, and she stated that she is not sure if this wasn't intentional since he can't be with her.     

      

Victim1 then stated that operator had only drank two beers and that he was not drunk.  She stated that they just got the boat last weekend.  At that time in the interview victim1 called operator's phone and he answered.  He answered by saying, “hello” and she asked him what he was doing, and he said, “siting here.”  Victim1 then told him that he needed to talk to officer and then officer asked him what happened, and he said that the throttle stuck, then you can't hear him and then you hear him say “i tried to stop” and then the call is disconnected.  Operator then sent victim1 a text saying that he didn't hang up, the wi-fi is bad.  He the stated he tried to stop the boat.  Following that text is when operator sent victim1 the picture of him sitting in front of the dumpster.     

      

Officer then interviewed subject2.  Subject2 suffered several propeller strikes that caused lacerations to her left hip and thigh (pictures are included with this report).  Subject2 stated that at first, they were just individual tubing then her and victim1 decided to go together.  She stated operator took off and all of a sudden, he was coming right at them.  She stated that she pushed both of them off the raft and she felt the propeller cut her.  She stated that she could “feel every inch of it cut me.”  She then stated that she doesn't even know operator, only that victim1 is his boss.  Officer asked her if operator had been drinking and she stated that she honestly can't say if he was drinking or not.  She then stated that after it happened, operator was shaking and couldn't help subject3 get them out of the water.     

      

After reviewing the statements, i contacted the indiana conservation officer's central dispatch and ask them to try to get information on operator through the police.  

       

 while running a driver's license check the return stated that operator did not have a license.  When i inquired with our dispatchers if they could find out if his license was suspended, revoked or what the status is, they contacted the police again and they confirmed that he had never received a driver's license.  It was also confirmed that he had a non-extraditable warrant out of waterloo, michigan for battery to a pregnant female.     

      

I then obtained a written statement an eye- witness to the accident.  Witness witnessed the accident while sitting on the front deck of her son's house.  

      

Witness reported in her statements to me and in her written statement that she was sitting on the porch at her son's residence when she witnessed the boat accident.  She states that an outboard speed boat was pulling two women on a raft.  There were two men in the boat, along with a young girl, a baby, and a small dog.  She then states that she saw the boat turn a sharp right and drive straight at the woman and the raft who screamed and fell off.  Witness states that the boat then hit both of them and she immediately called 911.  She then yelled at the boat and told them to come to the dock, and that help was on the way.     

      

Witness stated that she was instructed by the 911 dispatcher to go down to the dock to check on the ages of the women and extent of their injuries.  While she was down there providing the information to 911, she observed the man who was driving the boat gathering up empty beer bottles and cans and placing them into a styrofoam cooler.  She then states that the cooler broke, and some of the bottles and cans fell into the lake.  She then identifies the boat operator as a man wearing construction boots and having tattoos on both of his arms.  Witness said the man then dropped another beer bottle on the sidewalk in front of the pier and it broke.  He then cleaned up the glass and walked up to their porch to wait for the medics to arrive. (this is where i contacted operator upon my arrival).      

      

Witness then said she asked to take the little girl with her until help arrived.  She stated that none of the children had life vests on.  She states that after the women were transported from the scene, the mexican, who was the father to the little girl, took the children and the dog and drove the boat back to the access site and the children still did not have life vests on.     

      

After reading witness's statement i ask her to clarify what direction the boat was going when the accident happened.  She advised that she was looking out at the lake, and they were off to her right heading towards the shore.  The boat then turned immediately to their right when the accident happened.     

      

On 9-20-21, ico officer received information that victim1 had been contacted by operator.  During these conversations he was apologizing to her and made threats to kill himself.     

      

End of report as of 9-20-21


BARDID: IN-2021-0042
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2021-09-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:20:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Grounding
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of incident/investigation: 
On september 19th, 2021, at approximately 1251 hours, i, indiana conservation officer responded to a call from central dispatch that a boat accident involving a single personal watercraft (pwc) occurred at monroe reservoir and two injured subjects were in the water near fairfax beach. 

I arrived at the fairfax marina where the two injured males were transported to by the rest of the group the two males were with on a pontoon boat. The two injured males were identified. Perry-clear creek fire personnel and monroe sheriff's deputy where on scene when i arrived. I examined the pwc involved in the crash, in4898ed, and the only damaged observed was the left handlebar had broken off of the steering column and was dangling by wires. I photographed the damage to the pwc.  

While being examined by ems operator was in and out of consciousness and he had a possible fractured left forearm. Occupant was conscious but groggy and had lost his four bottom front teeth and had a large laceration over his left eye and a small laceration on his inner left thigh. 

I spoke to the owner of the pwc, and owner advised that members of the group were taking turns riding the pwc and operator and occupant left on the pwc at approximately 1215 hours and that they were found along the shore by the peninsula near fairfax beach at around 1245 hours with occupant signaling with his arms for help and operator in and out of consciousness

Owner advised nobody in the group witnessed the accident. After interviewing occupant and operator neither subject was able to recall the accident and occupant advised that he remembered riding the pwc but then everything went black and he remembers being in the water and pulling the pwc to the shore. 

Both operator and occupant were wearing personal floatation devices and the emergency shut-off seemed to be working. There was no indication that occupant or operator were under the influence of alcohol or drugs or that alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor. Based on the terrain the pwc possibly ran aground in the shallow water near the peninsula and threw both occupant and operator from the pwc, but there were no witnesses and no physical evidence to give an indication of the sequence of the accident.   

Occupant and operator were transported to iu health bloomington for treatment and care.


BARDID: IN-2021-0043
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-05-01 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:15:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: East Chicago
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Storm
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Weather
AccidentCause2: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
While at st catherine's hospital i spoke primarily to subject1 due to a language barrier with subject2. Subject1 identified the other missing individuals. Subject1 stated that he was friends with subject3 and subject4 and met up with them and their dad, subject2, to go out on subject2's 18ft bayliner. 

Subject1 stated that they had been working on the boat much of the winter. He stated they launched the boat around 1300hrs at east chicago marina. They left the marina heading northeast when the waves became much higher than they had expected. 

The weather on may 1, 2021 was forecast as 20-30mph sustained winds with gusts up to 45mph out of the south/southwest. Rescuers in the area searching reported waves around 8-10 feet in height. The water temperature was near 50 degrees. 

When the boat encountered these waves, it began taking on water, killing the boats engine. One of the boat's occupants, believed to be subject3, called 911 at this point. Subject1 then grabbed three life jackets. Subject1, subject3, and subject4 all put on life jackets. 

The boat then overturned, and the four men clung to the hull. At some point a wave struck the group and washed subject4 and subject3 off the boat into open water. Subject1 stated that subject3 was wearing blue on blue clothing, with bright blonde hair. Subject4 was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with short black hair. Subject3 and subject4 were said to have an orange and purple life jacket.

At approximately 1650hrs i was notified that the chicago fire helicopter had located subject3 in the water. A good samaritan was able to get subject3 on board and transported to the us coast guard boat. Subject3 was wearing a blue/purple type 4 throwable pfd and holding a red pfd. Subject3 was then transported to st catherine's hospital. I spoke with subject3 in the emergency room. Subject3 stated that him and subject4 were washed away and able to hold on to each other. At some point subject4 began to slip in and out of consciousness. A wave then struck the pair and they both went under water. When subject3 resurfaced all he could find was subject4's empty life jacket on the surface. Subject3 stated he believes when he looked under water, he saw subject4 sinking, and he never resurfaced.


BARDID: IN-2021-0044
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-12-11 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 11:26:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Webster Lake
NearestCityorTown: North Webster
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Very Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Storm
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Overloading
AccidentCause2: Weather
AccidentCause3: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On december 11, 2021 at 1116 hours kosciusko county dispatch received a call of a residential alarm in north webster. The alarm company advised there had been forced entry into the residence. 

Kosciusko county dispatch contacted indiana conservation and advised that north webster ems and police department had arrived on scene and notified them of a possible boating crash or accident which had occurred involving two male subjects located at the residence.

I arrived on scene at 1230 hours and spoke with one victim. Subject1 advised me he and a friend had been waterfowl hunting that morning. Subject1 advised the windy conditions had dislodged several of their decoys and around 1000 hours they determined to pack up and head back toward the public access site.

Subject1 advised they were attempting to recover all the decoys and suddenly they realized the boat was beginning to fill with water. Subject1 advised that as the vessel continued to take on water, he and operator realized the waves on the lake were too high to prevent more and more water from entering and further swamping the vessel. Subject1 advised they attempted to grab personal flotation devices, but they weren't accessible enough to get in time. Subject1 and operator each grabbed several decoys and a floating gun case and began to swim towards the nearest shoreline.

Subject1 advised they swam to shore, but that operator had begun to lose consciousness and was unable to pull himself from the water. Subject1 advised he called out for help with no answer. Subject1 then went to several residences and knocked with no response. Subject1 felt that operator was in danger of dying and decided to force entry into a residence. Subject1 attempted to run warm water in a bathtub, but the water was off.

Subject1 went to the neighboring house and attempted to force entry but was unable to get the door open. Subject1 then went to a third house and forced entry into it. Subject1 then filled a bathtub with warm water in an attempt to warm up operator. North webster police department took a report for the property damage and residential entry. Their report is included as an attachment to this report.

At approximately 1127 hours ems and police from north webster arrived on scene and began to treat both subject1 and operator for hypothermia and minor injuries. Due to his condition, operator was transported to kosciusko community hospital er for additional treatment.

At 1324 hours i arrived on scene at kch and spoke with operator. Operator corroborated subject1's statement regarding the events of the day. Operator advised by the time he realized the boat was taking on too much water and beginning to sink, he was unable to correct the course of the vessel and prevent the boat from sinking. Operator advised he remembered everything from the day until he and subject1 reached the shoreline. Operator advised he blacked out at that point and his next memory is from inside the ambulance.


BARDID: IN-2021-0045
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2021-10-23 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:21:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Ohio River
NearestCityorTown: Lawrenceburg
County: Dearborn
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of investigation/ incident:  
On 10/23/2021 at 14:21 hours dearborn county dispatch received a report of a nitro bass boat with indiana registration in 7265 ed on fire on the ohio river near the mouth of the great miami river. (owner) was able to board another nearby boat. Cincinnati fire responded and put the fire out and towed the boat back to tanners creek boat ramp in lawrenceburg, in.  
   
I, indiana conservation officer, arrived at tanner's creek boat ramp at approximately 17:15 hours. I asked operator how the fire had started on the boat and he replied while he was up on plane and was going approximately 45 mph he heard a spark/cracking noise by the outboard motor.  He stated he turned the outboard motor off and observed the rear back deck carpet had caught fire where he attempted to use his trolling motor to go to shore. He stated the trolling motor did not work. operator stated he was able to wave down a passing boat and boarded their boat.   
   
I documented the damages to the boat with photographs and dis-bec towing took possession of the boat.


BARDID: IN-2022-0002
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-02-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 07:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
PRELUDE:
I INVESTIGATED A BOAT THAT SUNK AT FOURWINDS.
DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:
YOUR AFFIANT HAS BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION AS A POLICE OFFICER AS DEFINED BY STATUTE UNDER IC 35-41-1-17, SINCE AUGUST 2019.  IN MY OFFICIAL DUTIES, I INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE ALL STATE LAWS WHICH INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, BOATING ACCIDENTS.
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER (ICO), RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A SUNKEN BOAT AT FOURWINDS MARINA.  I ARRIVED ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 ON TUESDAY 2/15/2022.  THE BOAT HAD ALREADY BEEN LIFTED TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER BY THE MONROE DIVE TEAM.  THE OWNER, WAS ON SCENE.  
I SPOKE TO OWNER 1.  OWNER 1 SAID HE THOUGHT THE STRAINER CONTRIBUTED TO THE BOAT SINKING BUT WAS NOT SURE.  HE SAID THE BOAT WAS REGISTERED.  THE BOAT DID NOT DISPLAY THE IN REGISTRATION NUMBER OR STICKERS.  I CONFIRMED BY HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER THAT THE BOAT WAS CURRENTLY REGISTERED.  THE BOAT DID NOT DISPLAY A CURRENT LAKE USE PERMIT.  I ADVISED OWNER 1 ABOUT THE LAWS FOR THE REGISTRATION DISPLAY AND LAKE USE PERMITS FOR BOATS IN THE FUTURE.  I DID NOT CITE OWNER 1.  OWNER 1 SAID HE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE ON THE BOAT.  FAIRFAX MARINA PERSONNEL WAS ON SCENE AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY WOULD TOW THE BOAT FOR REPAIR DURING BETTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE BOAT AND COMPLETED A BOAT ACCIDENT FORM.
CHARGES:
NONE
ATTACHMENTS:
PHOTOS OF BOAT
CURRENT DISPOSITION:
THIS CASE WILL BE FORWARDED TO ICO DISTRICT 6 OFFICE.
I SWEAR AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS ARE TRUE AND ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
S/ INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER


BARDID: IN-2022-0003
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-03-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Hammond
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fall in vessel
AccidentEvent2: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Weather
AccidentCause2: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. OP1 WAS OPERATING A TRACKER MOTORBOAT AT THE BOAT RAMP AT HAMMOND MARINA. OP1"S BOAT WAS LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BOAT RAMP. RANGER MOTORBOAT WAS TIED OFF ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BOAT RAMP. WITNESS WAS WITH THE RANGER FENDING IT OFF OF THE WOODEN PIER. OP1 WAS UNDER POWER TO PUT THE BOAT ON THE TRAILER. WINDS WERE SOUTH SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH  WHICH CAUSED OP1'S BOAT TO DRIFT OVER TOWARDS V2. OP1 PUT HIS BOAT IN REVERSE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO PREVENT THE REAR OF HIS BOAT FROM HITTING V2. UNABLE TO KEEP FROM HITTING V2, OP1 PUT HIS BOAT IN NEUTRAL AND PROCEEDED TO REACH OVER TO FEND OFF V2. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FEND OFF V2, OP1 CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE THROTTLE OF HIS BOAT ENGAGING FORWARD PROPULSION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. OP1 WAS IMMEDIATELY THROWN TO THE BACK OF THE BOAT, UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS BOAT. OP1 WAS WEARING A LIFE JACKET BUT DID NOT HAVE THE KILL SWITCH ATTACHED TO HIM. OP1'S BOAT STRUCK THE EAST WOODEN PIER, SPUN AROUND TO THE LEFT, AND PROCEEDED TO COLLIDE WITH V2 ON THE WEST WOODEN PIER. OP1'S BOAT STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE GUNWALE OF V2 AND CONTINUED DOWN THE GUNWALE TO THE OUTBOARD MOTOR. AFTER CLEARING V2, OP1 WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF HIS BOAT. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKE OF EACH MOTORBOAT AND ATTACHED ON THE I DRIVE


BARDID: IN-2022-0004
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-04-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Sullivan Lake
NearestCityorTown: Sullivan
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
AccidentCause2: Operator inattention
AccidentCause3: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:   
A man was rescued and treated for hypothermia after capsizing his boat.       
Details of Investigation/Incident:   
   On April 15, 2022, at or about 3:01 P.M., I, Indiana Conservation Officer, was contacted by the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department regarding an overturned kayak in Sullivan Lake, Sullivan County. Sullivan County Dispatch informed me of a male individual in the water screaming for help, and that he was not wearing a life jacket.    
   I responded and the victim, OP1, was being towed in by a neighbor on a kayak as I arrived. He was transported to the Sullivan County Community Hospital and treated for symptoms of hypothermia. The neighbor overheard the screams for help, paddled out to the middle of the lake and took the victim a lifejacket. After he donned the life jacket, she towed him in against the wind where medical personnel were waiting.     
  The wind, which was blowing from the southwest, pushed the overturned boat to the east shore of the lake where the Dugger Town Marshal assisted me with pulling it up onto the bank. I contacted the landowner, who agreed to allow the boat to remain on their property until OP1 could retrieve it. I obtained their contact information which they agreed for me to pass on to OP1. I photographed and documented the contents of the boat. Life jackets were stored in the front bow compartment of the boat.    
  I met with OP1 and his wife at the Sullivan County Hospital. OP1 agreed to speak with me regarding the incident. He stated that he had locked the throttle open on his tiller steer motor but had mistakenly taken his hand off the tiller to reach for something. He stated that the motor turned hard and tossed him out of the boat before he could regain control. The vessel overturned and shutoff. He attempted to recover a lifejacket from the compartment of the boat but could not get the latches open. He said he tried to swim to shore but quickly realized he would not make it. He stated that he just held on to the boat. OP1 informed me that he did not think he would have been able to hold on much longer. OP1 informed me that he has a lot of experience with kayaking, but he did not have much experience operating a motorboat.  I provided him with land owner’s phone number and contact information so that he could retrieve his boat.    
Applicable Statutes:   
N/A   
Attachments:   
Photos (15)   
    
Current Disposition:   
Investigation complete. Report submitted to district for approval.   
   


BARDID: IN-2022-0005
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-04-10 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:16:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: White River
County: Spencer
WaterConditions: Unknown
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Collision with floating object
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
details of the investigation/incident:   
    on april 10, 2022, at or about 5:16 p.m., i, indiana conservation officer received a phone call while off duty from central dispatch. dispatch advised that a male and female had been picked up after their kayak had capsized in the white river in owen county. dispatch asked if i would respond. while enroute to the spencer public access site i contacted indiana conservation lieutenant and advised him of the situation.    
        upon my arrival, owen county ems had both victims in the ambulance. paramedic advised they did not have any injuries, but their body temperatures were low. i was able to get the male and females information from ems. 
        i spoke with three individuals who rescued. i knew the subjects as GOOD SAM 1, GOOD SAM 2, and GOOD SAM 3. GOOD SAM 1 advised that they were out on the river running their boats when they were flagged down by PAX1. GOOD SAM 1 stated that PAX1 was pointing to something in the water. GOOD SAM 1 then noticed that OP1 was hanging onto a tree branch that was a part of the log jam. GOOD SAM 1 explained that he and GOOD SAM 2 pulled their boats up to OP1 and assisted her into the boat. they then loaded PAX1 into the other boat and went to the spencer public access site. while on their way they called owen county dispatch and advised them of the situation.    
        i asked GOOD SAM 1 if he found the kayak and he said it was stuck in the log jam. i asked GOOD SAM 1 if he saw PAX1 and OP1 throughout the day and he stated no.    
        after PAX1 and OP1 were cleared by medical personnel, i went into the back of the ambulance to interview both subjects. PAX1 explained that he and OP1 met at the gosport public access site around noon and began to float down the river. PAX1 was in an inflatable tube and OP1 was in a blue field and stream kayak. PAX1 advised that they stopped at a sandbar to hang out and then continued downstream. OP1 was then pushed by the current into a tree in the water and hit it broadside. the impact pushed the kayak over and OP1 fell out. PAX1 advised that he floated downstream about 100 meters and was able to get to shore. he then walked back to where OP1 was in the water.    
        both PAX1 and OP1 advised that she was in the water for 15 to 20 minutes before GOOD SAM 1 and GOOD SAM 2 arrived to help. when asked if they had personal floatation devices on, OP1 advised she did, and PAX1 stated he did not. they both advised they were not injured. OP1 stated that she had minimal experience kayaking and being on the water in general. neither one of them had made the float. PAX1 and OP1 both lost personal property in the river. both signed a signature of release with medical personnel.    
   

                                                                                                                                                                                


BARDID: IN-2022-0007
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 10:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MAY 22, 2022, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS ON BOAT PATROL ON MONROE RESERVOIR WITH INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2.  WE WERE AT THE FOUR WINDS MARINA AND RESORT DOCKS WHEN THE MANAGER OF THE BOAT DOCKS INFORMED US OF A BOAT CRASH THAT HAD OCCURRED THE WEEK PRIOR, ON MAY 15.  SHE CLAIMED THAT A HOUSEBOAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE DOCKS TO GO OUT TO THE LAKE WHEN IT COLLIDED INTO THE STERN OF ANOTHER HOUSEBOAT THAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AND TIED AT ITS DOCK.  WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE STATIONARY BOAT.
OFFICER 2 AND I PROCEEDED TO THE DOCKS WHERE THE CRASH OCCURRED.  WE LOCATED BOTH WATERCRAFTS INVOLVED AND INSPECTED EACH FOR SIGNS OF DAMAGE.  THE SUSPECT BOAT, OWNED BY OWNER 1 AND OPERATED BY OP1 AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, HAD VERY MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE HULL IN THE BOW.  THE VICTIM BOAT, OWNED BY OWNER 2, HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STERN SWIM DECK.  THE DECK WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN ON THE PORT SIDE, AND THE HANDRAILS SUPPORTING THE DECK WERE BENT AND HAD DISLODGED FROM THE MAIN DECK OF THE BOAT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.  THERE WAS ALSO A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE BILGE SURROUNDING THE ENGINE, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN A WATER LEAK.  OWNER 1 AND OP1 LEFT A NOTE ON THE PILOT HOUSE NEAR THE HELM OF THE DAMAGED BOAT ADMITTING TO FAULT AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.
OFFICER 2 AND I CONTACTED BOTH OWNERS AND THE SOLE OPERATOR, OP1, FOR STATEMENTS AND TO GATHER INFORMATION FOR A REPORT.  OWNER 1 AND OP1 EACH STATED THE BOAT WAS NEWLY PURCHASED AND THAT OP1 WAS DRIVING THE VESSEL AND LOST CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE COLLISION.  NEITHER OF THEM WAS INJURED.  OWNER 2 STATED THAT SHE WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE CRASH AND CLAIMED THERE WAS NO ONE ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.  THERE WERE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED.


BARDID: IN-2022-0008
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 10:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Mississinewa Lake
NearestCityorTown: Wabash
County: Wabash
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentEvent2: Grounding
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
AccidentCause2: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
on may 19th, 2022 at approximately 10:25 a.m. i, indiana conservation officer (ico), was on boat patrol on the mississinewa reservoir in wabash county.  i was checking fishermen located in the cove directly across the water from the mississinewa beach.  i heard a loud noise what sounded to be a boat engine revved up out of the water.  i noticed a boat located in the open water in between me and the beach.  
i observed what appeared to be an individual in the water swimming towards the boat.  as i approached the boat, i saw an older male in the water with multiple personal items floating near him.  the male, later identified as op1, started to struggle to keep his head above the water.  op1's head then went underwater and did not resurface. seconds later i grabbed op1's arm and pulled his head above water. i got op1 into my boat and transported him to the beach area for medical attention.  
op1 said he was driving his boat when suddenly his steering wheel turned fast and he was thrown from the boat.  
op1 had a laceration of top of his head that was bleeding.  he was complaining of head, shoulder, and right leg pain.  he said his truck keys, wallet, and gun were in the glovebox of the boat.  op1 was transported to howard community hospital in kokomo by ambulance. 
i secured his boat at the seasonal campgrounds mooring area.  i did not observe any damage to the boat.  i took in my possession op1's wallet, truck keys, boat keys, one hearing aid, and firearm.  i secured his truck at the miami boat ramp.  
at approximately 12:45 p.m. i arrived at the howard community hospital.  i released all op1's belongings to his wife.  
at approximately 1:22 p.m. i talked with op1.  he said he was fishing near the frances slocum boat ramp and decided to move spots.  he started heading southeast towards red bridge at approximately 40 m.p.h.  he said he had the motor trimmed up, but the boat was stable while on plain. he said suddenly the steering wheel jerked to the right.  he was then thrown out of the boat on the right side of the boat and landed into the water.  op1 tried to swim to the boat but was unable to get to the boat due to the wind pushing his boat away from him.      
op1 said he had the safety kill switch wrapped around his right leg.  he was not wearing a life jacket during the accident.  op1 said he has been operating a boat for approximately 40-50 years.  
at approximately 3:29 p.m. i talked with op1.  she said op1 was treated for his laceration on top of his head.  he was released from the hospital and instructed to follow up with an orthopedic doctor.  
may 25th 2022
at approximately 8:24 p.m. i talked with op1.  he provided me with his insurance information for his boat.  op1 said he remembered what occurred moments before he was thrown from the boat.  he said he leaned and grabbed a minnow bucket that was about to fall out of the boat.  after he grabbed the bucket, he went to readjust himself back into the seat.  he said he grabbed the steering wheel to readjust, which turned the boat sharply to the right.


BARDID: IN-2022-0009
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-09 00:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Middle Fork Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Richmond
County: Wayne
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
Responded to a boat accident on Middle Fork Reservoir that resulted in a sunken pontoon boat. The boat was recovered, and investigation completed. 
Details of the Investigation/Incident:  
On Friday May 20, 2022, I, Indiana Conservation Officer, along with Indiana Conservation Officer 2 traveled to Middle Fork Reservoir in Richmond Indiana to assist Indiana Conservation Officer 3 with a sunken boat recovery dive. We were called by RP to remove the sunken boat from Middle fork Reservoir. Once we arrived Officer 2 and I were directed to the Northern most part of the community dock. We found only inches of the starboard side of the pontoon sticking out of the water. The rest of the pontoon was under water. There was one dock line still attaching the boat to the dock. At this point the pontoon was slightly under the community dock standing straight up and down underwater. The boat appeared to be resting on its motor on the bottom of the lake. 
The pontoon was determined to belong to OWNER 1. The pontoon was last operated and seen by OWNER 1's mechanic on May 9, 2022. The pontoon was a 24 foot Weeres V.I.P 240 with registration.
Divers were able to get the boat lifted. We were then able to tow the pontoon to the boat ramp where we handed the tow line off to Towing personnel. They went on to lift the boat up out of the water to drain all the water out of both toons. Both toons had the plugs installed. It was determined both toons had holes in them that caused the pontoon to sink. The pontoon was returned to OWNER 1. 
Current Disposition:  
Investigation complete submitted to district 2.   

 


BARDID: IN-2022-0010
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-05-29 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:51:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Shafer
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: White
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Restricted vision
AccidentCause3: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MAY 29TH, 2022, I INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS PATROLLING LAKE SHAFER IN A DEPARTMENT-ISSUED PATROL BOAT. DURING THIS PATROL, I WAS DISPATCHED TO A BOAT CRASH RESULTING IN INJURIES.
WHEN I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, I COULD SEE TWO BOATS IN THE WATER. ONE BOAT WAS A BLUE BENNINGTON PONTOON DRIVEN BY OP2. THE BOAT HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE STERN AND MOTOR AREA. THE BOAT ALSO HAD THREE PEOPLE ON BOARD THAT WERE INJURED BECAUSE OF THE COLLISION.      
THE OTHER BOAT WAS A BAJA RUNABOUT-STYLE WATERCRAFT DRIVEN BY OP1. THIS BOAT HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ON BOARD, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THIS BOAT HAD VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT. THE ONLY THING I COULD SEE WAS A BLACK SCUFF MARK ON THE PORTION OF THE BOAT THAT WAS OUT OF THE WATER. I INFORMED OP1 THAT WHEN HE GETS THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER TO CONTACT ME SO I COULD INSPECT THE DAMAGES.        
ONCE I SAW THAT EMS STAFF WERE TENDING TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PONTOON BOAT, I BEGAN ASKING OP1 WHAT THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO AND CAUSED THE COLLISION WERE. OP1 STATED, "I'M GOING, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. WE WERE RACING." OP1 CONTINUED AND STATED THAT HE WAS RACING A JET SKI, AND HE THOUGHT THAT THE JET SKI HAD ALREADY LEFT THE AREA, BUT THAT WHEN HE WAS ACCELERATING HIS BOAT, THE BOW WAS STICKING FAR UP INTO THE AIR, AND HE COULD NOT SEE IN FRONT OF HIM. OP1 THEN STATED THAT HE FELT THAT HE HAD HIT SOMETHING OUT OF NOWHERE, SO HE STEERED HIS BOAT TO THE LEFT, AND HIS BOAT SLID OFF THE PONTOON BOAT. HE STATED THAT HE FINALLY SAW THE PONTOON BOAT ONCE HIS BOAT WAS LEVEL WITH THE WATER.  OP1 FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING NORTHWEST TOWARDS INDIANA BEACH WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.      
I INSTRUCTED OP1 TO DOCK HIS BOAT AT A NEARBY BOAT DOCK. AFTER HE COMPLETED THIS, AND WHILE I WAS STILL TALKING TO HIM ABOUT HIS ACTIONS BEFORE THE CRASH, I NOTICED HE WAS SLURRING A FEW OF HIS WORDS. HIS EYES WERE ALSO WATERY. WHILE OP1 CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN THE EVENTS OF THE BOAT CRASH, I OBSERVED AN EMPTY WHITE CLAW BOX AND A 30 PACK OF BUSCH LITE WITH MOST OF THE BEERS MISSING.   UPON OBSERVING THIS, I ASKED HIM HOW MANY ALCOHOLIC DRINKS HE DRANK TODAY, AND HE STATED HE HAD A FEW. I THEN INSTRUCTED OP1 THAT I WOULD BE OFFERING HIM FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS. I WAITED 15 MINUTES WHILE OP1 WAS ON SHORE AND THEN BEGAN THE TESTING. I ASKED OP1 ALL THE PRE-TEST QUESTIONS, TO WHICH HE RESPONDED NO TO ALL THE QUESTIONS. I THEN ADMINISTERED THE HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS (HGN) TEST ON OP1. I CONFIRMED OP1 UNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS AND BEGAN THE TEST. OP1 DEMONSTRATED A LACK OF SMOOTH PURSUIT IN BOTH EYES, DISTINCT AND SUSTAINED NYSTAGMUS AT MAXIMUM DEVIATION IN BOTH EYES, AND THE ONSET OF NYSTAGMUS PRIOR TO 45 – DEGREES IN BOTH EYES. OP1 FAILED THE HGN TEST BY DEMONSTRATING SIX CLUES.      
I THEN ADMINISTERED THE WALK AND TURN TEST ON OP1, I EXPLAINED THE STARTING POSITION AND THE INSTRUCTIONS TO OP1, AND OP1 STATED HE UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING BY STATING "YEP" AFTER HE WAS ASKED. DURING THE TEST, OP1 MADE AN IMPROPER TURN BY LIFTING HIS PIVOT FOOT OFF THE LINE DURING HIS TURN. HE ALSO RAISED HIS ARMS AWAY FROM HIS SIDES AT A LENGTH EXCEEDING SIX INCHES TO ASSIST IN BALANCING HIM DURING THE TURN. OP1 FAILED THE WALK AND TURN TEST BY DEMONSTRATING TWO CLUES.         
NEXT, I ADMINISTERED THE ONE-LEG STAND TEST ON OP1. I EXPLAINED THE TEST, AND OP1 STATED HE UNDERSTOOD THE TEST. OP1 BEGAN THE TEST BY LIFTING HIS RIGHT FOOT OFF THE GROUND.  OP1 PASSED THE ONE-LEG STAND. HE DID NOT DEMONSTRATE ANY CLUES DURING THIS TEST.      
AFTER THE TEST WAS COMPLETE, I OFFERED OP1 A PORTABLE BREATH TEST (PBT). OP1 REGISTERED A RESULT OF .008 ON THE PBT.  OP1 WAS THEN READ THE IMPLIED CONSENT WARNING CAUSING SBI/FATAL DURING A CRASH. OP1 SUBMITTED TO A CHEMICAL TEST AND WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE WHITE COUNTY JAIL BY A WHITE COUNTY OFFICER ON SCENE.      
I THEN BEGAN SPEAKING WITH OP2. HE STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING ALONG THE SHORELINE AT IDLE SPEED NORTHWEST TOWARDS INDIANA BEACH. HE THEN LOOKED BEHIND HIM AND SAW THE BOTTOM OF A BOAT CRASHING ON TOP OF HIS BOAT, THROWING HIMSELF AND HIS PASSENGERS TO THE FLOOR. I GATHERED CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OP2, TOOK PICTURES OF HIS DAMAGED BOAT, AND INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS FREE TO LEAVE. OP2 THEN STARTED TOWING HIS BOAT HOME WITH HELP FROM OTHER CITIZENS.      
WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH OP2, A WHITE MALE NAMED WITNESS 1 APPEARED ON THE DOCK. I ASKED WITNESS 1 WHO HE WAS, AND HE STATED HE SAW THE WHOLE THING. WITNESS 1 ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS RACING OP1 AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. WITNESS 1 STATED THAT HE ASKED OP1 HOW FAST HIS BOAT WOULD GO. WITNESS 1 ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OP1 TO GO FASTER AS HE WAS REVVING HIS JET SKI UP AND DRIVING BESIDE HIM.  WITNESS 1 THEN STATED HE SAW OP1 WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE PONTOON BOAT, AND HE SLOWED DOWN. WITNESS 1 CONTINUED BY SAYING OP1 STRUCK THE BOAT AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT AFTER STRIKING IT. WITNESS 1 ALSO EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS GOING BETWEEN 15-20 MPH WHEN HE SAW THE COLLISION. I THEN GATHERED ALL OF WITNESS 1'S CONTACT INFORMATION AND DROVE TO THE WHITE COUNTY JAIL TO OBSERVE THE BLOOD DRAW PROCESS. AFTER THE BLOOD DRAW PROCESS WAS COMPLETE, I TRANSPORTED OP1 BACK TO HIS BOAT. ONCE THERE, I GATHERED THE FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION AND INFORMED HIM TO NOT OPERATE THE BOAT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT.    
ON 06/02/2022, I RECEIVED A BOAT CRASH FORM BACK FROM OP2 AND LEARNED THE INJURIES OF THE THREE INJURED PEOPLE. VICTIM 3 SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISING WHERE THE BOAT HIT HER AND PINNED HER TO THE FLOOR, VICTIM 1 SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN FINGER, AND VICTIM 2 SUFFERED THREE CRACKED RIBS AND A CONCUSSION.      
BASED ON MY FINDINGS WITH OP1'S PRE CRASH ACTIONS AND HIM CRASHING BOAT I AM ISSUING HIM A SUMMONS FOR DANGEROUS OPERATION OF HIS BOAT. HIS ACTIONS CAUSED THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE TWO BOATS WHICH SERIOUSLY HURT 3 PEOPLE AND DESTROYED THEIR BOAT.              


BARDID: IN-2022-0012
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-29 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Manitou Lake
NearestCityorTown: Rochester
County: Fulton
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
OPERATOR 1 FELL INTO WATER FROM WATERCRAFT 1. NO ENGINE KILL SWITCH LANYARD WAS ATTACHED TO OPERATOR 1 AT TIME OF FALL, THUS WATERCRAFT 1 CONTINUED RUNNING TOWARDS NORTH SHORE. WATERCRAFT 1 STRUCK WATERCRAFT 2 WHICH WAS DOCK ON A SHORE STASTION LIFT. WATERCRAFT 1 HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE HULL. WATERCRAFT 2 HAD DAMAGE TO THE STERN (REAR) STARBOARD (RIGHT) SIDE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PORT (LEFT) SIDE OF WATERCRAFT 2 AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE SHORE STATIONS LIFT CRANK. OPERATOR 1 WAS ARRESTED BY ROCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OPERATING A WATERCRAFT WHILE INTOXICATED (ALCOHOL INVOLVED).


BARDID: IN-2022-0013
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:47:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Very rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
AccidentCause2: Weather
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MAY 30TH, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:47PM I WAS DISPATCHED TO THE PAYNETOWN SRA BOAT RAMP LOCATED ON MONROE RESERVOIR IN REFERENCE TO A DISTURBANCE IN PROGRESS THAT STEMMED FROM A BOAT ACCIDENT.   
I ARRIVED ON SCENE AND LOCATED BOTH PARTIES, AS WELL AS THEIR BOATS.   
THE FIRST BOAT OWNER I SPOKE WITH WAS OP1. OP1 ADVISED THAT HE WAS LOADING HIS 2020 YAMAHA RUNABOUT BOAT BEARING INDIANA REGISTRATION ONTO THE TRAILER WHEN A LARGE WAVE CRASHED INTO HIM, SENDING HIS BOAT OFF COURSE OF HIS NEARBY TRAILER. OP1 ADVISED THAT THE FORCE OF THE WAVE CAUSED HIS BOAT TO STRIKE AND DAMAGE A NEARBY BOAT, WHICH WAS ON A TRAILER. OP1 CLAIMED NO DAMAGE TO HIS BOAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.   
THE SECOND BOAT OWNER I SPOKE WITH WAS OWNER 2. OWNER 2 ADVISED THAT HE WAS TAKING HIS 1990 SEARAY BOAT BEARING INDIANA REGISTRATION OFF OF THE WATER FOR THE DAY. HE ADVISED THAT HIS BOAT WAS ALREADY LOADED ON THE TRAILER AND THAT THE IGNITION WAS NOT ON WHEN OP1 BOAT STRUCK HIS. OWNER 2 DID SHOW ME A LARGE HOLE AND DAMAGED FIBERGLASS ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF HIS VESSEL. HE DID NOT HAVE AN APPROXIMATELY DOLLAR FIGURE AVAILABLE WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE. I PHOTOGRAPHED THE DAMAGE TO OWNER 2'S BOAT.   
ALSO ON SCENE WAS A WITNESS. WITNESS ADVISED THAT IT APPEARED THAT OP1 "PANICKED" WHEN THE WAVE ALTERED HIS COURSE AND HE BELIEVED THAT OP1 ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE FORWARD THROTTLE OF HIS BOAT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO PROPEL FORWARD INTO OWNER 2'S BOAT.   
THERE WE NO INJURIES REPORTED.  


BARDID: IN-2022-0014
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-05-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 22:12:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
ON MAY 30TH, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:12PM, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS DISPATCHED TO THE PAYNETOWN SRA AREA OF MONROE RESERVOIR FOR A BOAT THAT WAS ON FIRE.  
DURING MY COMMUTE TO THE SCENE, DISPATCH WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLAMES HAD BEEN EXTINGUISHED BY THE 5 OCCUPANTS ON BOARD, WHO ALL WERE SAFE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
I ARRIVED ON SCENE AFTER PERRY CLEAR CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO HAD ALREADY LAUNCHED A RESCUE BOAT TO ATTEND TO THE STRANDED BOATERS.  
PERRY CLEAR CREEK FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO TOW THE 1991 TRIUMPH RUNABOUT BOAT BEARING INDIANA REGISTRATION BACK TO IT'S DOCK AT TWO HERONS MARINA ON MONROE RESERVOIR. I MET WITH THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE BOAT THERE AT THE DOCK.  
OP1 ADVISED THAT THE BOAT WAS CRUISING AT IDLE SPEED WITH APPROXIMATELY 900 RPM ON EACH OF THE TWO ENGINES. HE ADVISED THAT AS THE BOAT APPROACHED THE PAYNETOWN AREA, THE OCCUPANTS BEGAN TO SMELL A FIRE. WHEN OP1 LOOKED TOWARDS THE STERN OF THE BOAT, HE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED BLACK SMOKE EMITTING FROM ONE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. MEMBERS OF THE BOAT THEN OPENED THE COMPARTMENT DOOR AND DUMPED WATER FROM A NEARBY COOLER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.


BARDID: IN-2022-0015
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:36:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Brookville Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Liberty
County: Union
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON JUNE 4, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:36 HOURS, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 1 AND INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2 WERE ON BOAT PATROL AT BROOKVILLE RESERVOIR IN A FULLY MARKED PATROL VESSEL. I WAS DISPATCHED TO A NON-INJURY BOAT ACCIDENT THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED AT QUAKERTOWN MARINA. I NOTIFIED DISPATCH I WAS EN ROUTE.      
OFFICER 2 AND I ARRIVED ON SCENE AT AN APPROXIMATELY 13:00 HOURS AND DOCKED OUR PATROL BOAT. I EXITED MY PATROL VESSEL AND WAS MET BY THE SUBJECTS WHO CALLED TO REPORT THE INCIDENT (OP1 and PAX1). THEY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS THE OWNERS OF THE BOAT THAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT. THEY PROVIDED A COPY OF THEIR INSURANCE. I GATHERED THEIR LICENSE AND BOAT INFORMATION AND NOTIFIED DISPATCH. THEY WERE OPERATING A CREST SAVANNAH HPT PONTOON-STYLE BOAT, WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER AND HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. ON THE BOW (FRONT RIGHT) PONTOON OF THE BOAT, I COULD SEE SMALL CUT IN THE ALUMINUM AND BLACK COLORED PAINT. OFFICER 2 BEGAN TO GATHER PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO EACH BOAT.      
I OBTAINED A STATEMENT FROM OP1, WHO WAS THE OPERATOR OF THE PONTOON. HE STATED: “I HAD JUST LAUNCHED THE BOAT AND MY OIL ALARM CAME ON.” HE SAID THAT HE STOPPED THE BOAT AND MOVED TOWARDS THE MOTOR TO INSERT MORE TWO CYCLE OIL INTO THE OIL RESERVOIR. AS HE DID, OP1 SAID THAT A COUPLE OF GUYS ON A DOCK STARTED YELLING: “HEY YOU CAN'T PARK THERE” AND WAVING THEIR ARMS. OP1 ALSO STATED: “THE MOTOR WAS TURNED, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THE MOTOR HAD TURNED.” HE SAID THAT HE PLACED THE MOTOR INTO THE FORWARD GEAR AND THE BOAT BEGAN TO TRAVEL FORWARD. THE BOAT BEGAN TO TRAVEL TO THE STARBOARD SIDE (RIGHT) IN A FORWARD MOTION. AS THE BOAT TRAVELED FORWARD THE FRONT RIGHT PONTOON CONTACTED A 2022 GODFREY SWEET WATER PONTOON STYLE BOAT WHO IS OWNED BY OWNER 2. THE BOAT ITSELF DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE. THE MERCURY 150 HORSEPOWER MOTOR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LOWER COWL. OP1 DOCKED HIS BOAT AND CALLED 911 TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT.      
QUAKERTOWN MARINA EMPLOYEES INFORMED ME THAT THE OWNER OF THE DAMAGED BOAT MOTOR WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND ON VACATION. I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE OWNER 2’s INSURANCE INFORMATION FROM QUAKERTOWN MARINA. QUAKERTOWN MARINA WAS GOING TO CONTACT OWNER 2 AND INFORM HER OF THE INCIDENT ONCE SHE RETURNED FROM VACATION.      
A SHORT TIME LATER, OFFICER 2 AND I LEFT THE SCENE.      
ON JUNE 6, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 HOURS I CONTACTED OWNER 2 VIA CELL PHONE. SHE INFORMED ME SHE WAS AWARE OF THE CRASH. OWNER 2 TOLD ME BOTH INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE MADE CONTACT AND THE BOAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. I INFORMED HER THE CRASH REPORT NUMBER AND HOW TO REQUEST A COPY OF THE REPORT.     
     


BARDID: IN-2022-0017
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-06-07 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:10:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Shock Lake
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Equipment failure
AccidentCause2: Operator inattention
EquipmentFailure: Other
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
I WAS ADVISED THERE WERE TWO BOATS THAT HAD SUNK ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE LAKE. ONE WAS A 10-FOOT JON BOAT, AND ONE WAS AN 18FT BAYLINER RUNABOUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL BOTH BOATS BACK TO THE RAMP AND HAVE THEM REMOVED FROM THE LAKE. THE JON BOAT WAS ABLE TO FLOAT RIGHT SIDE UP BUT THE BAYLINER WAS OVERTURNED IN THE WATER. OP1 WAS THE OWNER OF BOTH BOATS. HE ADVISED WE COULD REMOVE THE BOAT WITH WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE. HE ADVISED THE BOAT DID NOT RUN AND PLANNED ON SCRAPING THE BOAT ANYWAYS. THE BAYLINER WAS REMOVED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DNR ACCESS NORTH PERSONAL AND THEIR EQUIPMENT. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE BAYLINER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE BOAT SANK DUE TO NOT HAVE A PLUG INSTALLED.   
OP1 ADVISED HE WAS GIVEN THE BAYLINER AND HE BROUGHT IT TO SHOCK LAKE TO SEE IF IT FLOATED. OP1 WAS OPERATING THE JON BOAT WHILE OP2 WAS IN THE BAYLINER. OP1 NOTICED THE BAYLINER STARTED SINKING AND WAS TRYING TO USE THE JON BOAT TO GET IT BACK TO SHORE. IN THE PROCESS OF THE BAYLINER SINKING IT SWAMPED THE JON BOAT AND OP1 WAS UNABLE TO BAIL THE WATER FAST ENOUGH.  
OP2 ADVISED THE BAYLINER STARTED SINKING AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO GET IT BACK TO SHORE WITH THE JON BOAT. THE WIND CAUSED THE BAYLINER TO DRIFT ACROSS THE LAKE AND THE TROLLING MOTOR ON THE JON BOAT COULD NOT PUSH THE BIGGER BOAT. THE SINKING BAYLINER SWAMPED THE JON BOAT.   
 While there is no damage amount, the owner indicated the boats would be hauled in for scrap.


BARDID: IN-2022-0018
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-11 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:34:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Patoka Lake
NearestCityorTown: French Lick
County: Dubois
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper loading
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER (ICO) RECEIVED A CALL ON JUNE 11TH 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1634 HOURS OF A TRI-TOON BOAT THAT HAD FLIPPED OVER NEAR PATOKA LAKE DAM. ONCE ARRIVING ON SCENE, I LOCATED THE OVERTURNED BOAT AND MADE SURE NO ONE WAS INJURED OR LEFT IN THE WATER. I WAS ADVISED THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE AND OUT OF THE WATER. I THEN ASKED WHO ALL WAS ON THE VESSEL AND WHO OWNED THE BOAT. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS RENTED FROM RENTAL COMPANY. RENTAL COMPANY HAS LIABILITY INSURANCE.
I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET OP1 AND TWO PAX ON MY BOAT TO TALK ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THEY ADVISED THAT OP1 AND PAX 1 WERE THE ASSIGNED CAPTAINS OF THE VESSEL AND PAX 2 OVERSAW SETTING UP ALL THE RENTING INFORMATION. 
I WAS THEN ADVISED THAT AT THE TIME THE BOAT OVERTURNED THERE WAS 6 PEOPLE ON THE TOP DECK, AND 1 PERSON SWIMMING IN THE WATER. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT NO ONE WAS ON THE LOWER DECK OF THE TRI-TOON. 
SOON AFTER I ARRIVED ICO 2 ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO CONTACT RENTAL COMPANY. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO COME REMOVE THE BOAT FROM THE WATER AT THE CURRENT TIME BUT AGREED TO REMOVE THE BOAT IN THE MORNING OF JUNE 12TH. ICO 2 SECURED THE BOAT SO IT WOULD NOT FLOAT AWAY AND INFORMED RENTAL COMPANY WHERE THE BOAT WAS LOCATED. 
I THEN ASKED WHO ELSE WAS ON THE BOAT AT THE TIME, THEY ADVISED THAT 4 PAX WAS ALSO ON THE VESSEL. DUE TO THE BOAT OVERTURNING, MULTIPLE ITEMS WERE LOST INCLUDING PHONES, WALLETS, KEYS, AND OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS. 
LATER I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRI-TOON THAT OVERTURNED WAS TIE ONTO ANOTHER PONTOON. THE OTHER DAMAGED BOAT BELONGED TO OP2. THE DAMAGE ON OP2 BOAT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED. 
I THEN CONTACTED RENTAL COMPANY OWNER, ON JUNE 12, 2022, AS THEY WERE PULLING THE OVERTURNED BOAT INTO THEIR MARINA. THE BOAT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED FOR DAMAGES. THE ONLY VISIBLE DAMAGE WAS THE RAILING WAS BENT, AND THE UPPER DECK WAS ALSO BENT.


BARDID: IN-2022-0019
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-05-29 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:00:00
CoordinatesConfidence: C
NameOfBodyOfWater: Pigeon River
NearestCityorTown: Howe
County: LaGrange
WaterConditions: Unknown
StrongCurrent: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
AccidentCause2: Dam/lock
AccidentCause3: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
A man was kayaking with friends when he paddled too close to a low head dam. He was pulled into the face of the dam by the current and his kayak capsized. He was pulled from the water a short time later and transported to the hospital. He died the next morning from asphyxia due to drowning.  
         
Details of the investigation/incident:     
   
        on sunday may 29th, 2022, i, indiana conservation officer was on boat patrol in steuben county when i received a phone call from steuben county dispatch about a possible drowning incident in lagrange county. I drove from lake james in steuben county to ontario dam in lagrange county. By the time i arrived on scene, victim had already been air-lifted to parkview regional medical center (prmc) in fort wayne. 
  
Through my investigation, i found the following events had occurred. On sunday, may 29th, around 4:30 p.m., victim and a group of friends drove to the ontario dam for an evening of kayaking on the pigeon river. At approximately 5:00 p.m., victim paddled a yellow and black kayak from the down-stream side of ontario dam, 2500-2698 e 450 n, howe, in 46746, to the boil line of the dam. 

He began taking selfies about 2 feet from the south edge of the dam, when he crossed the front edge of the boil line and was pulled bow first into the face of the dam. Victim attempted to paddle in reverse, but the force of the water was too strong. 

Upon contact with the water at the dam face, the kayak was turned sideways and immediately tipped. Victim was rolled in the water and taken under the water line many times over a period of 3-5 minutes. He eventually stopped moving and went under, his body was released from the recirculating current and came to the surface a few yards downstream from the boil line. He was pulled from the water and c.p.r. began immediately by onlookers and pigeon river staff. He was transported to prmc via helicopter. He was placed on a life support ventilator and hospital staff began running brain scans.  
  
I spoke with the family at prmc and obtained further information. There were many belongings left in the river as well as the kayak, which hadn't surfaced at that time. I left the hospital at 10:15 p.m. i spoke with hospital staff at 10:24 p.m. who advised the victim was still on a ventilator at that time and would have brain damage if he survived.  
  
On monday may 30th, i was off duty and missed a call from the allen county coroner's office. At 2:04 p.m. i contacted the allen county coroner's office to inquire if they had received any new information on the status of victim. He had been pronounced dead at the hospital at 02:06 a.m. from asphyxia due to drowning. No autopsy will be performed at this time, but the coroner's office is waiting on toxicology results. I spoke with victim' girlfriend, who informed me they had the kayak in their possession at that time.  
  
This ends my involvement in this case.  
  


BARDID: IN-2022-0020
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:13:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Tippecanoe River
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: White
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
AccidentCause2: Sudden medical condition
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:    
I responded to a possible drowning on the Tippecanoe River near the Blue Water Public Access.    

Details of Investigation:    
On June 4, 2022 I, Indiana Conservation Officer, was on duty and patrolling in White County, Indiana in my marked patrol vehicle and wearing my Class C Boating Uniform. At approximately 6:13pm White County Central Dispatch received a 911 call of a male subject, Victim, who was swimming in the Tippecanoe River from his boat towards shore and disappeared under the surface of the water and did not resurface. Monticello Fire Department, Monticello Police Department, and officers responded.

At 6:16pm Monticello Police arrived on scene and at 6:17pm advised the victim was out of the water and CPR was in progress. Monticello Fire arrived on scene at 6:17pm. The caller and wife of the victim, Wife, was still in the boat and floating downstream at this time. At 6:24pm Monticello Fire began transporting the victim to IU Health-White Memorial Hospital and arrived at 6:33pm. ICO1 responded to the area of the incident and ICO2 and I went to the hospital. Monticello Fire launched their boat the assist Wife and the boat back to shore – the boat was tied off at Blue Water Public Access and the keys were given to ICO1. ICO1 attempted to locate other witnesses but was unsuccessful.    

We arrived at the hospital directly behind the ambulance. When Victim was unloaded from the ambulance and moved inside the hospital, I observed that CPR was still in progress. While the hospital provided life-saving efforts to Victim, I was informed that Wife was sitting inside the Chapel at the hospital, so I went and talked with her.     

I introduced myself to Wife, who was still wearing a PFD, and explained to her that I was the investigating officer and had some questions for her. I asked Wife if she knew what happened – she told me she witnessed the whole incident. 

Wife told me this was their first time out in the boat, a white and blue 1987 Bayliner 1750 Capri bearing Indiana Registration, and shortly after launching Victim noticed the boat was taking on water and he then realized he forgot to put the drain plug in. 

Victim then exited the boat and entered the Tippecanoe River to put the plug in. After doing so, Victim attempted to re-enter his boat but was unsuccessful. Wife said Victim then started swimming towards the shore when he disappeared under the surface of the water and didn't resurface – that's when she called 911. 

I asked Wife how many people were on the boat – she told me just her and Victim. I asked Wife if she had any questions for me – she did not but mentioned she was concerned about the boat, truck and trailer being parked at the ramp. I told Wife that we would take care of getting the boat loaded on the trailer. I thanked Wife for speaking with me.    

At 7:24pm IU Health-White Memorial Hospital staff pronounced Victim deceased. A short while later, I spoke with White County Coroner. Coroner and I spoke with Wife and got her permission to take the boat, truck and trailer from the ramp back to their house. Coroner told me he would schedule an autopsy and forward me the report.    

With assistance from ICO1 and ICO2, the boat was loaded onto the trailer. After loading the boat on the trailer and pulling it out of the water, I observed that the swim ladder on the back of the boat was extended and in the down position. I observed that the drain plug was installed. 

Inside the boat, I observed several PFDs laying out in plain view and I did not observe any alcoholic beverage containers. I also tested the function of the bilge pump – with the key turned to every position and the bilge switch turned “on”, the bilge did not turn on. When the drain plug was removed, water drained out for several minutes. The truck with the boat and trailer was parked at the residence.
    
On June 5, 2022 I attempted to contact Wife to obtain more information but was unsuccessful.    
On June 9, 2022 Coroner informed me that an autopsy was completed on Tuesday, June 7th with the following preliminary results: Victim most likely suffered a cardiovascular event then drowned. Coroner informed me that Victim had “major blockage on heart arteries.” At this time, the cause of death is pending official autopsy results and toxicology results.


BARDID: IN-2022-0021
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-18 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:14:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: White River
NearestCityorTown: Gosport
County: Owen
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with floating object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent3: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
AccidentCause2: Dam/lock
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
the driver and operator of the boat was identified as op1 and the passenger was identified as pax 1. op1 stated it was his first time on the river and he wanted to take his dad fishing. he launched his bass tracker boat at paragon public access site and began trolling southbound on the white river. op1 stated they were bass fishing when he noticed his boat was approaching two log jams in the river. op1 quickly pulled his trolling motor out of the water and attempted to start his gasoline motor. before op1 could get the motor starter, the current of the river sweep his boat into the log jam. the boats port side collided into the log jam causing the starboard side of the boat to sink due to amount of water rushing into the floorboard. PAX 1 dialed 911 and made contact with owen county sheriff's office. both subjects had the proper pfds on board and were used in case the boat went under.


BARDID: IN-2022-0022
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-18 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake James
NearestCityorTown: Angola
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with governmental vessel
AccidentEvent2: Collision with fixed object
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
PRELUDE: 
ON LAKE JAMES, TWO BOATS WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN DAMAGES TO THE BOATS AND A DOCK. A REPORT WAS TAKEN.
INVOLVED PERSONS:
OPERATOR/ BOAT 1
OPERATOR/ VICTIM BOAT 2
DOCK OWNER/ VICTIM 2
DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:
ON JUNE 18TH, 2022, AT 5:12 P.M., I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER AND OFFICER 2 WAS NOTIFIED BY STEUBEN SHERIFF DEPARTMENT DISPATCH CENTER OF A BOATING ACCIDENT ON LAKE JAMES IN STEUBEN COUNTY. I ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT 5:30 P.M. WHERE I MET UP WITH INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2. I SPOKE WITH THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. OPERATOR OF BOAT 1 WHO CAUSED THE CRASH. VICTIM OF BOAT 2 WHO WAS HIT WITH DAMAGES TO HIS BOAT & OWNER OF MARINA, WHO HAD DAMAGES TO HIS DOCK. 
THROUGH MY INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE FOLLOWING EVENT TO OCCUR. OP1 WAS ATTEMPTING TO DOCK HIS BOAT ON MARINA. HE TRIED TO EXTEND HIS ARMS OUT TO AN EMPLOYEE WHEN HIS KNEE HIT THE BOAT THROTTLE. THIS MOVED HIS BOAT FORWARD AND ON TOP OF OP2’S BOAT. OP2 WAS TIED UP TO DRY DOCK MARINA WHEN BOAT 1 STRUCK THE REAR END OF HIS BOAT. THIS CAUSED DAMAGES TO BOAT 1, BOAT 2 AND THE DOCK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, OWNER OF MARINA CALLED 911. NO ONE WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND VISIBILITY WAS CLEAR. NO EVIDENCE WAS SEIZED. PHOTOS AND VIDEOS WERE TAKEN.
ATTACHMENTS:
39 PICTURES AND 2 VIDEOS ON I-DRIVE
1 BOAT CRASH REPORT
CURRENT DISPOSITION: 
SUBMITTED TO DISTRICT 2 CHAIN OF COMMANDS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL


BARDID: IN-2022-0023
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-18 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 22:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Big Long Lake
NearestCityorTown: South Milford
County: LaGrange
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fall in vessel
AccidentEvent2: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent3: Grounding
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
AccidentCause2: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON JUNE 18, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 A.M. WHILE ON BOAT PATROL ON JONES LAKE, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, WAS DISPATCHED TO A REPORT OF A BOAT ACCIDENT ON BIG LONG LAKE IN LAGRANGE COUNTY INDIANA.   
OFFICER 2 AND I LAUNCHED OUR DUTY BOAT FROM THE BIG LONG LAKE PUBLIC ACCESS SITE. WE MET OP1 AS WELL AS OWNER 1 AT A PRIVATE BOAT LAUNCH ON THE NORTH-WEST SIDE OF THE LAKE AT AROUND 11:40 A.M. HERE WE ASSISTED THEM WITH GETTING THE BOAT LOADED ON THE TRAILER AND PULLED OUT OF THE WATER.    
ONCE THE BOAT WAS OUT OF THE WATER, WE FULLY ASSESSED ALL THE DAMAGE. THE FIBERGLASS HULL HAD AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE SPLIT GOING DOWN THE FREEBOARD ON THE PORT SIDE. THERE WAS MAJOR FIBERGLASS DAMAGE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL, PRIMARILY ON THE PORT SIDE STARTING IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT, GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE STERN. THE OUT DRIVE HAD MAJOR COMPONENTS BROKEN ON IT AND IT WAS NO LONGER WORKING PROPERLY. I DOCUMENTED AND TOOK PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE.    
FIRST, WE TALKED TO OWNER 1, THE OWNER OF THE BOAT. HE STATED HE WAS NOT ON OR AROUND THE LAKE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID HIS SON HAD PERMISSION TO BE OPERATING HIS BOAT. OWNER 1 TOLD US THAT THE BOAT IS INSURED BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY PROOF OF THIS. OWNER 1 TOLD US HE WAS ALREADY IN CONTACT WITH HIS INSURANCE PROVIDER ABOUT THE INCIDENT.   
WE THEN BEGAN ASKING OP1, THE OPERATOR, WHAT HE REMEMBERED HAPPENING. AT FIRST, HE TOLD US THAT A JET SKI HAD RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE BOAT AS HE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO GO THROUGH AN AREA OF THE LAKE THAT GETS VERY NARROW. IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME OFFICER 2 AND I WERE NOTIFIED BY DNR DISPATCH THAT THERE WAS A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT WHO HAD CALLED IN TO REPORT WHAT HE SAW.   
OFFICER 2 SPOKE WITH WITNESS 1 ON THE PHONE REGARDING WHAT HE HAD WITNESSED EARLIER THAT MORNING. ONCE THE PHONE CONVERSATION WAS OVER WITH WITNESS 1 OFFICER 2 CONFRONTED OP1 WITH THE CONFLICTING STORY. OP1 ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT GET HIT BY A JET SKI. OP1 STATED HE MADE A QUICK MANEUVER IN THE NARROW SECTION OF THE LAKE WHICH THREW HIM OUT OF HIS SEAT AND RESULTED IN HIM LOSING CONTROL OF THE BOAT. THE BOAT THEN RAN INTO A PIER AS WELL AS A TREE ON SHORE. OP1 STATED THE BOAT WAS GROUNDED AND HE HAD TO GET HELP TO GET THE BOAT OUT OF THE SHALLOW AREA.   
WE RELEASED OWNER 1 AND OP1 FROM THE SCENE AFTER ISSUING OP1 A CITATION FOR IMPRUDENT OPERATION. IC 14-15-3-7. WE THEN MET WITNESS 1 AT HIS PIER TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD WITNESSED IN PERSON. HE TOLD US THAT IT WAS ABOUT 8:15 A.M. AND THERE WERE NO OTHER BOATS ON THE LAKE AT THAT TIME. WITNESS 1 STATED THAT HE WATCHED THE OPERATOR FALL OUT OF HIS SEAT AFTER MAKING A VERY SHARP TURN AND THE BOAT HIT A DOCK AND A TREE. WITNESS 1 TOLD US THAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO WENT OVER AND MADE SURE OP1 WAS OKAY AND HELPED HIM GET HIS BOAT BACK INTO DEEPER WATER.   
OFFICER 2 AND I THEN WENT TO THE LOCATION THAT THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. HERE WE FOUND A HEAVILY DAMAGED METAL PIER. A DAMAGED BOAT LIFT, WHICH HAD A BOAT ON IT. WE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DAMAGE TO THE BOAT ITSELF. WE ALSO FOUND TWO SPOTS OF TORN UP BARK ON THE TREE NEXT TO THE PIER WHERE THE BOAT HAD STRUCK THE TREE. I DOCUMENTED AND TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE DAMAGE. WITH THE HELP OF DNR DISPATCH WE FOUND THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OWNER OF THE DAMAGED PROPERT. WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE SITUATION OVER THE PHONE AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED EARLIER THAT MORNING.


BARDID: IN-2022-0024
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 11:10:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Morse Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Noblesville
County: Hamilton
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:       
I investigated a property damage boat accident at the Morse Reservoir marina.      
Involved persons:                
Details of Investigation:       
On June 19, 2022, Officer 2 and I were on boat patrol on Morse Reservoir when at 11:10 AM we were notified by dispatch that there had been a boat accident at the Morse Reservoir marina. Upon arriving at the marina there was a 1996 Maxum boat tied to the dock and a 2014 Bennington pontoon boat pulled into the gas pump slip. There was broken glass from the windshield of the Maxum on the dock, and blood droplets on the docks adjacent to the boat. The Maxum boat had a broken windshield and heavy damage on the rear and starboard side of the boat. The pontoon had damage to the front of the port side.      
Officer 2 started to investigate as I photographed the scene. The operator of the Bennington boat was interviewed by Officer 2. He was Identified as OP1 of Noblesville.  OP1 stated he was attempting to tie off his boat to the dock when the crash occurred. OP1 further stated he was pulling his boat alongside the dock and stepped out of the vessel when he noticed the boat was still moving forward. He then advised he attempted to engage the throttle in reverse to get the boat stopped but mistakenly engaged the throttle in forward gear. The boat moved forward in the direction of the Maxum boat in front of him, striking the rear of the boat starting at the swim platform continuing on top of the vessel.        
The owner of the Maxum boat was identified as Owner 2.  He was not on his boat at the time of the crash. He advised he had stepped off to untie it from the dock so he and his daughter could depart for the day. Owner 2 further stated he was untying his bow line when he heard the engine of the pontoon engage and saw it strike the rear of his boat.  The impact of the crash snapped the bow line.       
Owner 2 added that his daughter was on board in the bow of his boat at the time of the crash. He further advised the pontoon struck the rear of his boat starting at the swim platform continuing on top of his vessel. He stated his daughter was able to move out of the way of the vessel getting to safety. Owner 2 had cuts on his left foot which had been wrapped in gauze by paramedics at the scene. Owner 2 stated the cuts came from the glass from the broken windshield and that his daughter had not sustained any injuries. While speaking with Owner 2 he advised the blood on the dock was from his foot while he was attempting to get to his daughter during the accident.  
EMS on scene initially evaluated Owner 2 and thought he had just sustained cuts to his feet. Owner 2 later advised it was determined there was still broken glass in his foot and it would have to be surgically removed.       
Officer 2 and I then reviewed footage from the security cameras at the gas pumps at the marina. Upon reviewing the damage to the vessels and the footage, the statements given from Owner 2 and OP1 were confirmed. After reviewing it was apparent that OP1 had tripped and accelerated the throttle forward while exiting the boat.  OP1 had no recollection of tripping after the accident occurred. The video also showed that PAX 1 jumped out of the front of her boat onto the docks just after impact.  Officer 2 was able to download the video footage onto a thumb drive (see attachments). There was no apparent damage to the docks at the marina from the crash.    
Officer 2 provided the operator's version of the boat accident form to Owner 2 and OP1 after the accident. Damage estimates are pending and will be entered when received. The cause of this accident was operator error by OP1.      
        
Attachments:    
Photos on I-Drive (31)  
Video clips (2)   
Operator statements (2)  
Report of Indiana Operators Boat Accident Form (3)   
        
Current Disposition:   
Submitted to district 4 headquarters.     


BARDID: IN-2022-0025
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:22:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Crane Lake
NearestCityorTown: Albion
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper loading
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude: two victims had a boating accident on crane lake in noble county. The female victim was successfully recovered. The male victim died.   
    
Details of investigation/incident:   
   
At approximately 4:22 p.m. on june 19, 2022, ico dispatch received a call for a water rescue on crane lake in noble county. The caller advised he heard screaming and yelling coming from the lake. Officer and myself, while in full class b uniform and in my fully marked assigned state commission, responded to the scene from huntington county.  
   
Officer1 and i arrived on scene at approximately 5:29 pm. Already on scene were other indiana conservation officers, noble county township fire department, noble county sheriff's department, thorn creek fire department, churubusco fire department, and indiana state police.  
   
When i arrived, i witnessed a male subject lying near the public access site deceased per paramedics on scene.  The male subject was later identified by driver's license that was removed from his pants pocket.  I began speaking with noble county township fire department officer in charge, captain. Captain advised me what they understood had happened after speaking with a female witness.  I was told that two subjects had been fishing in a small aluminum boat that had capsized.  I was told that a female subject had been inside the boat with the male when it capsized.  The female witness was inside the ambulance enroute to parkview hospital whitley, being evaluated by medics.    
   
Captain stated that around approximately 4:40 pm fire units began arriving on scene. Two firefighters from noble county township fire entered the water and began swimming toward the woman who was at the south end of the lake screaming for help. Two additional firefighters from the same department arrived on scene with a boat.  They launched, retrieved the two firefighters that were swimming before approaching the victims still in the water. The firefighters spotted a partially submerged boat at the south end of the lake.  They witnessed a female (subject2) in the water near the boat.  Upon arriving to subject2's location, the firefighters asked if she was the only one. Subject2 responded, "no he's under me."  
   
Rescue personnel stated they observed life jackets and fishing gear floating in the water. Two firefighters jumped out of the boat to assist subject2.  One firefighter escorted subject2 to the other side of the lake towards a large tree. The male victim, subject1, was pulled from the water and brought to the back of the boat. Subject1 was taken to shore to awaiting medics.  Medics attempted lifesaving measures which were ultimately unsuccessful.  Subject1 was pronounced dead by paramedics at 5:15 pm.  Subject2 was retrieved from her location at the south end of the lake by fire personnel and transported to an awaiting ambulance.  Subject2 was later transported to parkview for evaluation.  
   
Indiana conservation officers then recovered the boat which was partially submerged and brought it to shore. All the victim's personal belongings were placed in the back of subject1 truck on scene, and the keys were later given to subject1's daughter at parkview hospital whitley.   
   
I retrieved written statements from the firefighters on scene and documented the scene with photographs.   
   
At approximately 6:00 p.m. noble county coroner arrived on scene. He took possession of subject1's body which was transported at approximately 7:10 pm to the northeast indiana forensic center at st. Joe hospital in fort wayne for a postmortem examination.    
   
At approximately 7:15 pm, i met with subject2 at parkview whitley er for her account of what happened.  She stated they got out on crane lake around 11:30 am. She had been fishing with subject1 all day. They had lifejackets beside them in the boat but were not actively wearing them. Subject1 dropped his fishing pole in the water and reached over to get it. The boat subsequently tipped over. Subject2 stated subject1 went over the boat and into the water, and she fell backwards over the other side of the boat. She emerged from the water on the opposite side of the boat from subject1. She grabbed and held onto the capsized boat. She then observed subject1 holding his lifejacket to his chest, but not wearing it. She asked subject1 if he was okay and then asked if he could swim. Subject1 responded yes. Subject2 then said she looked forward and was trying to think of a way to fix the situation when she heard splashing. She turned around and observed the lifejacket subject1 had been holding onto floating away from him. Subject2 stated subject1 was grabbing for the lifejacket, and that she moved closer and began trying to push his life jacket back towards him. Subject2 stated subject1 kept falling below the water and that she was trying to keep his head above water.  Subject2 stated that she heard subject1 gurgling.     
   
I was pulled out of the interview who exchanged contact information with me so that i could receive information for the autopsy.   

subject2 was released from the hospital. Indiana conservation officers, as well as indiana conservation officer chaplain went and visited subject2 at her private residence.   
   
Subject2 stated more about the boat accident. She stated that she believed she and subject1 were in the water for 15 minutes and that she screamed for help the entire time while attempting to keep subject1' head above the water. She stated she could not just let him go.   
   
The chaplain ensured subject2 had contacts to assist her in the coming weeks while she recovered.   
   
Around approximately 9:30 pm, i left subject2's private residence and began driving back.   

Based on preliminary findings, dr. stated the cause of death was hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and morbid obesity. She stated the manner of death was natural. The procedure was concluded at approximately 10:00 am.    
   
This concludes my involvement with this case as of 12:30 pm on june 25th 2022.  
   


BARDID: IN-2022-0026
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:10:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Burns Ditch
NearestCityorTown: Portage
County: Porter
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (non-fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Electrical
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
OPERATOR 1 EXPLAINED VESSEL 1 WAS IN HER SLIP AND SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS LOWERING THE OUTBOARD MOTOR INTO THE DOWN POSITION BUT, WAS RAISING IT INSTEAD. 

WHILE THE MOTOR WAS RISING, A WIRE WAS PINCHED BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND MOTOR MOUNTING BRACKET. HEAVY SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER ONBOARD WAS USED ALONG WITH OTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FROM NEARBY SLIP HOLDERS TO EXTINGUISH ANY FLAMES. 

I EXAMINED THE BOAT AND OBSERVED WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE BURNED ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL WIRING ON THE STARBOARD SIDE NEAR THE BOAT'S STERN. THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO OTHER WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, AND THE MOTOR IS UNKNOWN


BARDID: IN-2022-0027
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:24:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Double Tree Lake
NearestCityorTown: Crown Point
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person departed vessel
AccidentEvent2: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
BOAT 1 (1998 NITRO) WAS BEING OPERATED BY OP1. OP1 WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT ON BOAT 1. BOAT 1 WAS OPERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED COMING HEADING TOWARDS A COLLISION WITH BOAT 2. BOAT 2 WAS UNOCCUPIED AND AT REST SECURED TO ITS PIER. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT OP1 JUMPED FROM THE BOAT INTO THE WATER. BOAT 1 CONTINUED TRAVELING WITHOUT AN OPERATOR AND STRUCK BOAT 2. BOAT 1 THEN OPERATED IN A CIRCULAR MOTION STRIKING BOAT 2 TWO MORE TIMES WITHOUT AN OPERATOR. OP1 EXITS THE WATER AND FLEES OFF CAMERA. NO LIFE JACKETS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE RECKLESS OPERATION AND INEXPERIENCE OF OP1. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES.


BARDID: IN-2022-0028
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:05:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Syracuse Lake
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentEvent2: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
ON JULY 2, 2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:05 P.M. HOURS KOSCIUSKO COUNTY DISPATCH WAS ADVISED OF A BOAT ON FIRE NEAR THE SYRACUSE LAKE PUBLIC ACCESS SITE.  
AT 6:07 P.M. KOSCIUSKO COUNTY DISPATCH NOTIFIED THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE INCIDENT. SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AT 6:09 P.M. THE FIRE WAS DOCUMENTED THROUGH DISPATCH TO BE UNDER CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 6:17 P.M. SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER TO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AT 6:26 P.M. SYRACUSE POLICE OFFICERS DETAINED THE OPERATOR, AWAITING MY ARRIVAL.  
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 P.M. SYRACUSE POLICE ADVISED THEY DID NOT SMELL ANY ODOR OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMING FROM THE OPERATOR. I SPOKE TO THE OPERATOR, LATER IDENTIFIED BY HIS INDIANA DRIVER'S LICENSE AS OP1. I TOOK INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS ABOUT THE INCIDENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:38 P.M. INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER 2 ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.  
ICO 2 ADVISED OP1 THAT A REPORT WILL BE TAKEN SINCE THE DAMAGE IS EXCEEDED 1,000 DOLLARS. ICO2 INFORMED OP1 THAT WE NEED A RECORDED STATEMENT FOR THE REPORT. OP1 UNDERSTOOD AND PROCEEDED TO RECALL THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE FIRE.  
OP1 HAD LAUNCHED HIS BOAT, LATER IDENTIFIED AS A 1992 CELEBRITY 180 INDIANA REGISTRATION, AT THE SYRACUSE LAKE PUBLIC ACCESS SITE. OP1 STATED THE BOAT WOULD NOT START. OP1 ADVISED HE HAD SPRAYED ETHER INTO THE CARBURETOR TO HELP THE BOAT START. 
ONCE THE VESSEL HAD STARTED AND WAS UNDERWAY, OP1 CLAIMED HE WAS GOING UNDER THE BRIDGE TO PICK UP TWO FRIENDS WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BLEW OPEN FROM AN APPARENT EXPLOSION. OP1 THEN ADVISED HE AND HIS FRIEND ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE FIRE BY EMPTYING THEIR COOLER ONTO THE FIRE. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BOAT JUMPED OVERBOARD TO SAFETY. 
OP1 ADVISED THEY KEPT THE VESSEL NEAR THE BRIDGE AREA AND SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT QUICKLY ARRIVED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VESSEL WAS THEN WALKED BACK TO THE BOAT RAMP AND LOADED ONTO OP1'S TRAILER. 
I PHOTOGRAPHED ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE EXTERIOR. THE PORT SIDE BOW OF THE VESSEL INDICATED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I PHOTOGRAPHED THE INTERIOR, REVEALING MOST OF THE DAMAGE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE CHARRED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS LOCATED BY THE HELM FLOORBOARD THAT WAS NOT USED. 
OP1 STATED THE BOAT IS NOT INSURED. OP1 THEN ACCOMPANIED US TO THE AREA WHERE THE BOAT WAS FLOATING PRIOR TO THE FIRE BEING EXTINGUISHED SO WE COULD VERIFY THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. I DOCUMENTED OIL THAT HAD LEAKED FROM THE VESSEL INTO THE WATERWAY. THE SCENE WAS CLEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 6:45.


BARDID: IN-2022-0029
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:03:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Wawasee
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Excessive speed
AccidentCause3: Drug
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On july 2, 2022 at approximately 5:03pm i, indiana conservation officer, was on boat patrol on lake wawasee with ico 2 when i was notified of a two-boat crash involving injuries near the crow's nest area of the lake. At approximately 5:08pm i observed two heavily damaged vessels in the area of the crow's nest. The first vessel i observed, later identified as a 1970 aquasport with indiana registration number, had sustained heavy damage to the keel near the bow area of the boat and the center console as well as the steering cable had become dislodged during the collision. The second vessel i observed, later identified as a multicolored 2020 assembled pontoon with indiana registration, had sustained heavy damage to the entire port side including the decking and railing of the vessel.
I boarded the pontoon to ensure there were no life threatening or serious injuries to the passengers and crew while ico 2 attempted to aid op1 in recovering his equipment from the water. Ico 2 then began to escort op1 and his vessel to shore, as it appeared to be taking on water and sinking quickly.
I spoke with the operator of the pontoon, later identified by his driver's license as op2, who advised they had just begun a tour around the lake and were operating north/northwest at approximately five miles per hour when one of the passengers aboard his vessel shouted that op1's vessel was about to collide with them. Op2 advised the passengers to move out of the way and brace for impact.
Op2 advised that op1's boat struck the pontoon midship on the port side and the bow of op1's vessel then continued to move down the port side all the way to the bow section and destroyed the deck and the deck railing of the boat. Op2 advised that op1 never took his vessel out of gear following the crash and the boat began wilding circling the area, as though the steering had been disabled.
As i was attempting to gather information ico 2 advised op1's vessel was sinking too quickly and that we would need to remove op1 from the boat before it became fully submerged. Ico 2 retrieved me from the pontoon, and i advised op2 that i would follow up with him and the vessel's owner once we were able to ensure we could get op1 and his vessel safely to shore.
We then approached op1's boat and observed it had almost no freeboard remaining and the entire stern of the vessel was submerged. We attempted to verbally command op1 to don a life jacket and board our vessel multiple times and he continued to ignore our requests, running maniacally around the water filled deck space of the boat and refusing to take the boat out of gear. After several attempts to gain control of op1 and his boat, we were able to grab ahold of op1 and place him safely in the bow of our boat. We then tied off op1's boat and towed it as close to shore as possible so that it would not be sunk in the deeper part of the lake. We were able to get the boat over to a public swimming area near the enchanted hills group pier, where it eventually sank. 
Photographs were taken of the vessel and op1 was escorted to a nearby park to be examined by medics for his injuries and for field sobriety testing.
It should be noted that during our transport of op1 and his vessel to shore he repeatedly admitted responsibility for the crash and advised he had not been paying attention. Op1 muttered several comments that he was attempting to "show off" and that he knew he should not have been operating so recklessly.
I asked op1 how much alcohol he had consumed that day and he advised me he had a few alcoholic beverages. I advised op1 i could detect a moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and he advised me he had been drinking earlier that day.
I advised op1 that i wanted to make sure he was not operating while intoxicated and requested that he submit to field sobriety testing. Op1 agreed to the testing. 
The first test performed was horizontal gaze nystagmus. Out of six total clues for the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, op1 displayed all six clues for intoxication. The failure criteria for the test is four or more clues. Op1 displayed clues in both eyes for lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. Op1 did not display any sign of vertical nystagmus. 
Turkey creek fire and paramedics arrived on scene following the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and treated op1 for his injuries sustained during the crash. Op1 was treated at the scene and released back to my custody and was deemed fit to participate in additional field sobriety testing.
The second test performed was the finger to nose test. Op1 displayed a total of 11 clues during the test. The failure criteria for the test is nine or more clues. During the instruction phase of the test op1 displayed clues for being unable to follow instructions and for starting the test at the wrong time. While performing the test op1 displayed clues for not closing his eyes, not tilting his head, opening his eyes during the test, moving his head more than one inch during the test, hesitating once, searching for his nose twice, missing his nose once, and not bringing down his finger once. It should also be noted i had to stop the test four times in order to re-explain the test to op1.
The third test performed was the palm pat test. Op1 displayed a total of five clues during the test. The failure criteria for the test is two or more clues. During the performance stage of the test op1 displayed clues for rolling his hands, performing double pats, chopping his pats, rotating his hands, and stopping before being told to do so. It should also be noted that i had to stop the test in order to re-explain the test to op1.
The fourth test performed was the hand coordination test. The failure criteria for the test is three or more clues. Following a full explanation of the test to op1 he refused to perform the test. 
A portable breath test was then administered to op1 with a result of 0.052 g/210l.
Op1's information was then run through indiana conservation officers central dispatch center and his return showed that he had an outstanding warrant for a battery charge in kosciusko county.
Op1 was then read implied consent information from a department issued card, and he consented to chemical testing. Op1 was then transported to kosciusko community hospital for an evidentiary blood draw. Op1 signed the acknowledgement of consent form at the hospital at 7:29pm. A sample of blood was collected from op1 at 7:31pm by lab technician.
Op1 was then booked into the kosciusko county jail for boating while intoxicated and an outstanding warrant for battery.
At approximately 7:23pm i spoke with the owner of the pontoon boat, who advised me to meet with his girlfriend who could escort me to where the damaged pontoon had been moored in syracuse. I arrived at that location and documented all damage to the vessel with photographs. 
July 3, 2022
At approximately 8:30pm i spoke with op2 to get a recorded statement from him regarding the events of the previous evening. Op2's statement is included as an attachment to this report. OP1's toxicology was positive for alcohol and marijuana.


BARDID: IN-2022-0030
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-03 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Clear Lake
NearestCityorTown: Fremont
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by propeller
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
  ON 7/3/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00 PM, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS CONTACTED BY CLEAR LAKE TOWN MARSHAL, REFERENCE TO A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON CLEAR LAKE IN STEUBEN COUNTY. TOWN MARSHAL ADVISED THAT HE RESPONDED TO A MEDICAL CALL. ONCE HE ARRIVED HE FOUND OUT THAT THE INCIDENT WAS A BOATING ACCIDENT. HE SPOKE WITH THE VICTIM, VICTIM 1, WHO ADVISED HE WAS RIDING IN THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER AREA OF THE 2015 NAUTIQUE BOAT BEARING REGISTRATION. THEY WERE WAKE SURFING, WHEN THE SURFER FELL, VICTIM 1 JUMPED OFF THE PORT SIDE OF THE BOAT. THE BOAT OPERATOR THEN BEGAN TURNING RIGHT TO PICK UP THE SURFER. THE PROPELLER STRUCK VICTIM 1 IN THE RIGHT THIGH CAUSING INJURY.   
        TOWN MARSHAL THEN SPOKE WITH THE OPERATOR, OPERATOR 1. OPERATOR 1 ADVISED THEY WERE WAKE SURFING WHEN THE SURFER FELL. DURING HIS TURN TO PICK UP THE SURFER, VICTIM 1 JUMPED OUT THE PORT SIDE OF THE BOAT. THE PROPELLER THEN STRUCK VICTIM 1'S RIGHT THIGH. THEY THEN DROVE VICTIM 1 BACK TO SHORE TO BE TREATED BY FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL. OPERATOR 1 ADVISED THAT VICTIM 1 HAD BEEN DRINKING AND WAS INTOXICATED. TOWN MARSHAL ADVISED THAT OPERATOR 1 DID NOT APPEAR TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.   
        I THEN SPOKE WITH BOTH PARTIES BY PHONE. OPERATOR 1 ADVISED THAT VICTIM 1 WAS DRUNK AND FOR SOME REASON JUMPED OUT OF THE BOAT WHEN HE WAS TURNING AROUND TO PICK UP THE SURFER. HE STATED HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HE JUMPED OUT OF THE BOAT. VICTIM 1 THEN STATED HE WAS REACHING FOR THE ROPE TO HAND TO THE SURFER WHEN THE WAKE SHIFTED THE BOAT CAUSING HIM TO LOSE BALANCE. THIS CAUSED VICTIM 1 TO FALL OVERBOARD, IN TURN BEING STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER. VICTIM 1 WAS TRANSPORTED TO PARKVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN FORT WAYNE FOR A 3" LACERATION TO HIS RIGHT THIGH. VICTIM 1 STATED HE WAS ABLE TO BE STITCHED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT SURGERY.   


BARDID: IN-2022-0032
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-07-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:34:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Jimmerson Lake
NearestCityorTown: Angola
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Electrical
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
   ON 7/4/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:35 PM I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, RESPONDED TO THE CORNER LANDING AT JIMMERSON LAKE REFERENCE TO A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC) THAT HAD EXPLODED NEAR THE GAS PUMPS. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:39 PM STEUBEN COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND MYSELF ARRIVED AND OBSERVED TWO MALES AND A FEMALE LAYING ON THE SHORE.     
        I FIRST SPOKE WITH VICTIM 1 WHO ADVISED SHE WAS THE BACK PASSENGER ON THE 2003 SEA DOO PWC. VICTIM 1 ADVISED THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE DOCK WHEN THE DRIVER, OP1, STARTED THE BOAT. AS SOON AS HE STARTED THE BOAT, IT EXPLODED, THROWING ALL THREE PASSENGERS APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO SIX FEET ABOVE THE BOAT. VICTIM 1 COMPLAINED OF BACK PAIN AT THE SCENE. SHE ALSO HAD A CUT TO HER KNEE AND LIP BUT ADVISED THOSE WERE INJURIES PRIOR TO THE BOAT ACCIDENT.     
        I THEN SPOKE WITH OP1 AND VICTIM 2 WHO ADVISED THE SAME STORY AS VICTIM 1. I THEN SPOKE WITH THE BOAT OWNER, OP1. OP1 ADVISED HE HAD NOT HAD THE BOAT ON THE WATER SINCE 2021. I ASKED OP1 IF HE HAD DONE ANY MECHANICAL WORK TO THE BOAT. OP1 ADVISED HE HAD NOT. OP1 STATED IT RAN FINE THE LAST TIME HE HAD PUT IT ON THE WATER. I THEN ASKED OP1 WHEN THE LAST TIME HE HAD PUT FUEL IN THE BOAT. HE ADVISED HE PUT FUEL IN IT AT SAM'S CLUB LAST WEEK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY JUST TOOK THE BOAT OFF THE TRAILER A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE EXPLOSION AND IT STARTED JUST FINE.     
        I THEN SPOKE WITH THREE WITNESSES WHO ASSISTED THE THREE VICTIMS OUT OF THE WATER AFTER THE EXPLOSION. THE FIRST WITNESS FILLED OUT A WITNESS STATEMENT. SHE ADVISED HER HUSBAND, TWO OTHERS, AND HERSELF WERE SITTING ON THEIR BOAT AT THE DOCKS. THERE WAS A JET SKI ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIER. THERE WAS A FAMILY OF APPROXIMATELY 10-12 GETTING ON A BOAT AND JET SKI. TWO MALES AND ONE FEMALE WERE ON THE JET SKI. THERE WAS A MALE DRIVING, A MALE IN THE MIDDLE, AND A FEMALE ON THE BACK. THE BOAT STARTED AND PULLED AWAY. THE MALE TRIED STARTING THE JET SKI AND IT WOULDN'T START. THEY FLOATED TOWARDS THE PIER AWAY FROM US. AS HE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, THE JET SKI BLEW UP. ALL THREE WENT INTO THE AIR CLOSE TO 4-6 FEET THEN LANDED IN THE WATER. GOOD SAM AND I JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND HELPED THE TWO MALES ONTO THE DOCK. THE GIRL WAS VISIBLY IN SHOCK SO WE TRIED TO CALM HER DOWN. WE THEN REALIZED THE JET SKI WAS STILL ON FIRE AND GAS IN THE WASTER. WE THEN PUT THE GIRL ON THE DOCK. GOOD SAM AND I THEN GOT OUT OF THE WATER. THE OWNER THEN CAME OUT TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.     
        WITNESS STATEMENT STATED SHE WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE JET SKI WAITING FOR OUR KIDS TO COME OUT FROM GETTING ICE CREAM. THREE TEEN-AGE APPEARING KIDS WERE GETTING ON THEIR JET SKI. THEY WERE SITUATING THEMSELVES ON THE SEAT. I WAS STANDING APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET FROM THE JET SKI ON THE DOCK. HE STARTED THE JET SKI AND IT IMMEDIATELY EXPLODED. THE THREE INDIVIDUALS FLEW UP INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON THEIR BACKS ON TOP OF THE JET SKI. GOOD SAMS AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO GRAB THE KIDS FROM THE WATER. A GENTLEMAN CAME WITH A EXTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE ON THE JET SKI OUT. WE PULLED ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS ONTO THEIR BACKS WHEN WE GOT THEM OUT OF THE WATER. THEY WERE ABLE TO WALK TO A SAFER LOCATION AFTER A FEW MINUTES.   
        WITNESS STATEMENT STATED HE WAS SITTING ON A DOCK HOLDING HIS BOAT WITH THREE PEOPLE ON A JET SKI BEHIND HIM. THEY WERE TRYING TO START THE JET SKI. ONCE IT STARTED, DRIVER GAVE IT GAS AND IT EXPLODED WITH THREE PEOPLE ON IT. GOOD SAMS QUICKLY JUMPED INTO THE WATER TO GET THE PEOPLE ONTO THE DOCK.   
        OP1 STATEMENT STATED: "PUT GAS IN AT SAM'S CLUB. BROUGHT OUT TO THE LAKE STARTED IT UP AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AND DROVE TO OTHER SIDE FO DOCK STARTED TO PULL OUT INTO THE LAKE AND IT EXPLODED". 
        ALL THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE PWC WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE SCENE BY STEUBEN COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL. ANGOLA FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ASSISTED WITH GETTING THE PWC TO SHORE. THE PWC WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE BY BILL'S PROFESSIONAL TOWING. I WILL BE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE CORNER LANDING IN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT.


BARDID: IN-2022-0034
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-07 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake George
NearestCityorTown: Fremont
County: Steuben
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fall in vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
AccidentCause2: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
ON 7/7/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 PM, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER OVERHEARD STEUBEN COUNTY DEPUTY ASK DISPATCH IF THE SUBJECT WAS OUT OF THE WATER YET. DISPATCH ADVISED "THEY WILL BE BACK TO SHORE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES". I THEN ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE ADVISED DISPATCH HAD SENT FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL TO A BOAT ACCIDENT. DEPUTY ADVISED HE WAS EN ROUTE. I ADVISED DEPUTY THAT I WOULD BE EN ROUTE ONCE I GOT OFF LAKE JAMES.   
        UPON ARRIVAL, I OBSERVED THE VICTIM BEING LOADED INTO THE AMBULANCE TO BE TAKEN TO PARKVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. I THEN SPOKE WITH OP1'S FATHER. OP1 FATHER ADVISED HE OBSERVED OP1 OPERATE A 2019 SEA DOO PWC BEARING INDIANA REGISTRATION PAST THE HOUSE. OP1 FATHER ADVISED OP1 THEN CONTINUED AROUND BROWN'S POINT. DURING THIS TIME, OP1 WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH. OP1 FATHER THEN RECEIVED A CALL A FEW MINUTES LATER FROM OP1. OP1 ADVISED HE HAD HIT A LARGE WAVE DRIVING AROUND BROWN'S POINT AND IT EJECTED HIM. OP1 HAD COLLIDED WITH THE WAVE WHILE TURNING. THE COLLISION CAUSED OP1'S LEFT LEG TO SLAM DOWN ONTO THE PWC CAUSING IT TO BREAK. OP1 FATHER THEN GOT INTO A SEPARATE BOAT AND DROVE OUT TO ASSIST OP1 AND THE PWC TO SHORE.   
        OP1 WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO PARKVIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. ONCE AT PARKVIEW, I CALLED OP1 FATHER TO SEE WHAT THE EXTENT OF OP1'S INJURIES WERE. OP1 FATHER ADVISED OP1 SUFFERED FROM A COMPOUND FRACTURE TO HIS FIBULA AND TIBULA BONES IN HIS LEFT LEG. HOSPITAL STAFF HAD PLACED A CAST ON OP1'S LEG AND PLANNED TO OPERATE ON 7/8/2022. I PROVIDED OP1 FATHER WITH THIS CASE NUMBER FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. I WILL BE FORWARDING THIS CASE REPORT TO ICO DISTRICT TWO HEADQUARTERS FOR REVIEW.  


BARDID: IN-2022-0035
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-16 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:18:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Heltonville
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
StrongCurrent: 0
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Other
OtherAccidentCause: Passenger/skier behavior
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
On june 16, 2022 at 5:18 p.m. indiana conservation officer (ico) dispatch got a call for a water rescue at salt creek boat ramp on monroe reservoir. Ico dispatched advised that the call came from subject1 who was in a boat saying grandma was in the water screaming for help with no life jacket and she could no longer see or hear her. 

Subject2 was rescued by a fisherman passing by. Monroe county dispatch pinged the cell phone and got the location at hardin ridge cove. Subject2 said her husband was also in the water but nowhere to be found. Ico, monroe sheriff department, monroe dive team, indiana state police, and perry clear creek fire department started to look for victim using sonar and divers to search for him. Subject2 and subject1 were transported back by perry clear creek fire department back to salt creek boat ramp to be checked out by ems. Subject2 and subject1 were cleared and released by ems.

Ico interviewed subject2 and subject1 about the situation. Subject2 said that she was getting out of the boat into the water to cool off. She slipped on the ladder and hurt her foot. She said she started to struggle when victim jumped into the water to help her. 

Subject2 said victim was a strong swimmer but started to struggle himself. Subject2 said it took about 5 minutes had passed when victim went under the water and never came back up. She said the boat was floating away with her granddaughter (subject1) on it. 

Subject2 was screaming for help but there was no one around to hear her. She said that a fishing boat about 30 minutes later saw her struggling in the water. Subject3, the driver of the fishing boat, came to her aid and grabbed her out of the water. Subject2 said that victim was wearing camo jean shorts with sandals on when he jumped in to save her. Subject1 said she tried to start the boat, but it would not start so she decided to call 911.

Indiana state police had inventoried the boat and there was no alcohol or drugs on board of the boat. 
Subject3 and subject2 gave the approximate location of all of this. Divers continued to search for victim before calling off the search at 10:22 p.m on june 16, 2022.

The search for victim continued on june 17, 2022 at 7:45 a.m. icos searched for victim using sonar, remotely operated under water vehicle, and divers to search for victim through out the day. Victim was found on june 17, 2022 at 4:56 p.m. in 30 feet of water. Victim was recovered at 5:20 p.m. he was found wearing camo jean shorts with one sandal. Victim was released to the coroner at 6:04 p.m.

I called and talked to subject3 on june 24,2022 about what he witnessed. Subject3 said he was trolling in his boat when he heard subject2 screaming for help and waving his arms. Subject3 said he was about 100 yards away. He said there was another boat trying to help but could not get close enough without the wind blowing them away. 

Subject3 said he threw subject2 a type iv throwable. Subject3 said he had a ladder on his boat, so he was able to get subject2 in his boat. Subject2 told him that her granddaughter (subject1) was still on her boat, and it had floated into the cove. Subject3 took subject2 to her boat to pick up her granddaughter. Subject3 then took both subject2 and subject1 out of the cove so the first responders could find them. Subject3 was able to describe the weather as mild wind, hot and sunny, with little current.


BARDID: IN-2022-0037
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-06-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 02:00:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Turtle Creek Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Merom
County: Sullivan
WaterConditions: Very rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Storm
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Sinking
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Weather
AccidentCause2: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:     
A man was recovered from a reservoir after having gone missing during a storm.     
     
Details of Investigation/Incident:     
     On June 26, 2022, at or about 4:48 A.M., I, Indiana Conservation Officer was contacted by Sullivan County Sheriff in reference to a missing boat on Turtle Creek Reservoir, Sullivan County. I was advised that Hoosier Energy had sounded their alarm indicating that boaters should return from the lake to shore until weather and water conditions improve.   
  
  Hoosier Energy only sounds the alarm when winds of at least 20 mph are present and have sustained longer than two minutes. It was reported that winds reached 30 to 40 mph that night from the south. Due to the topography of Turtle Creek Reservoir, strong winds cause the surface of this reservoir to become extremely unsafe. Security personnel advised that there had been two boats on the water and only one returned to shore. Sheriff informed me that Deputy was on scene and attempting to locate the missing boater from shore.    
 
   I arrived on scene and met with Deputy1. There was a boat and empty trailer still present in the parking lot. We put my boat on the water and began performing a surface search for the missing person. During the search, a gas can was spotted floating near the intake channel of the power plant. Additional searching of the area revealed a soft sided cooler with a Farbest Foods label on it. Finding no additional debris in the water, we returned to the ramp to await additional resources to continue the search.
     
  I was greeted at the ramp by a friend of Victim's that had been communicating with him the night of the incident. He asked if we had located anything, and I directed him to the gas tank and the cooler. Friend stated that he recognized the gas tank as one he had given to Victim and stated that he and Victim work together. Friend informed me that he had been fishing at Sullivan Lake the same time that the storm had arrived in the area, and he had been communicating with Victim. Victim's last text message to Friend was at 12:50 am.     

  Victim's communication indicated that he was aware of the storms coming, but he intended to fish for another hour before finishing. Friend informed me that the boat Victim was fishing in was not a safe boat to be on the water. He stated that Victim had removed all flotation inside the boat and put sheets of fiberglass panels down as a boat decking. He stated that the motors were unreliable and that the wiring was “cobbled together.” Friend stated that Victim could not swim but refused to wear a personal flotation device despite keeping them present on the boat in the past.    

   Friend directed me to Victim's preferred fishing spots and stated that he rarely ventured further out into the lake due to the condition of his boat and his inability to swim. Friend informed me that Victim either wore brown muck boots or boating shoes that were purple in color.      

  Additional Indiana Conservation Officers arrived, and we began searching areas of Turtle Creek Reservoir with side scan sonar. Lieutenant and I located a bobber in the water near one of the areas Victim reportedly liked to fish. As we retrieved the bobber, we realized that there was a fishing pole still attached to it. We continued to scan the area to locate Victim's boat. We later learned that Victim informed Friend that he had lost a fishing pole earlier in the evening.     

  Officers continued searching the area throughout the evening. We all identified images in the same area while running side scan that we believed could potentially be Victim's boat. However, the images were not conclusive. Based on the wind direction coming from the south the night before, the location of these images could be consistent with where the items were recovered near the intake earlier in the day.     

  I contacted Victim's daughter who was with Victim's wife, and asked if someone could come and pick up his truck and trailer. She stated that she and her mom could not drive a manual transmission very well. She asked if the vehicle could be locked up and the keys taken to the sheriff's department. The vehicle and trailer that was present and believed to belong to Victim could not be secured. I performed a quick inventory of the vehicle and photographed its contents. An identification card was present in the console that belonged to Victim.      

  The next morning, myself and several Indiana Conservation Officers arrived to continue searching for Victim and his boat. At 8:10 A.M., I observed something floating in the water, which I believed to be Victim. I noted a water temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of recovery. Officer operated the boat as I secured the individual. I notified Officer to come to my location and assist me in pulling the individual up into my boat.     

  The deceased individual was a white male wearing blue jeans, a dark polo shirt and purple boating shoes. He had reddish brown hair with a full beard and mustache, and he was floating face down in the water. I immediately notified Lieutenant of the recovery as well as dispatch. I contacted Sullivan County Sheriff's Department and requested that they notify the County Coroner as well as one of the Sullivan County Ambulance Teams to transport Victim. Sullivan County Dispatch contacted Knox County Sheriff's Department to send an officer to Victim's house and notify his wife that he was recovered.      

Victim did not appear to have any possessions in his pockets at the time of recovery. I did not observe any visible injuries to Victim. 

  The autopsy was performed on Tuesday June 28, 2022.  The preliminary results indicated that the cause of death was consistent with drowning and the manner of death based on all available evidence is ruled as an accident.      

  The boat has not yet been recovered from Turtle Creek Reservoir as its exact location is yet to be determined.     


BARDID: IN-2022-0038
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-10 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 01:52:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Watershed
NearestCityorTown: Lexington
County: Scott
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: No wind
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper loading
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On july 10th 2022 at approximately 1:58a.m, i received a call from central dispatch in reference to a drowning in scott county.  I responded to the scene With my issued jon boat. 
 
	i arrived at approximately 3:00a.m. and observed multiple fire units from the scottsburg fire department, lexington volunteer fire department, scott county ems and deputies from the scott county sheriff's office.  I also observed various items floating in the lake water approx. 50 yards straight out from the shoreline.  Among these items floating were the shoes of the missing person and a camouflage gear bag.  The initial information gathered from emergency personnel was that two male subjects were fishing when the small boat they were in capsized.  One subject was able to swim to shore and one male subject was still missing.  The boat involved is a small 10ft. Aluminum flat bottom jon boat bearing indiana registration, which was present at the scene beached at the west bank of the lake.  

	initially, other officers spoke with the witness.  Witness was in the boat with the victim at the time of the incident.  Witness stated that the two were fishing when victim caught a fish and went to put the fish in a container to store the fish.  While doing so, victim lost his balance for an unknown reason and the boat began to take on water.  The boat filled with water and overturned, causing both occupants to end up in the water.  Neither subject was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident, however there were two throwable type pfd's in the boat during the incident.  Officer and i spoke with Witness again later that morning to follow up and make sure Witness did not forget to tell us any additional information. 

	victims body was located at approximately 7:13a.m. in approx. Seven feet of water and was taken to the shoreline.  The catfish that victim had caught earlier in the morning that cause him to lose his balance was still on his hook and line.  Victims body was entangled in fishing line and two separate anchor lines that were in the boat.  At the end of one anchor line was a large rock and the other anchor line had a break drum attached to it.  

	scott county coroner arrived, assessed victims body, and took photographs.  Victim was then transported to buchanan funeral home in austin by ems.

	on 7-12-22 at approximately 12:15p.m, i met dr. with central indiana forensic associates, llc at buchanan funeral home in austin.  A full autopsy was performed on victim and the number one cause of death was drowning on the preliminary anatomic/clinical findings.


BARDID: IN-2022-0039
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-06-24 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:29:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Private
NearestCityorTown: Holton
County: Ripley
WaterConditions: Unknown
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:   
One male drowned in a private pond in Ripley County.   
    
Details of Investigation/ Incident:   
On June 25, 2022, at 17:49 hours Ripley County Dispatch received numerous 911 hang-ups. Dispatchers were unable to communicate due to a language barrier. I, Indiana Conservation Officer, overheard the radio traffic from Ripley County Dispatch of the 911 hang up call near a pond. Ripley County Dispatch sent Deputies to the location of the 911 calls. I advised Ripley County Dispatch that I would be enroute to that location. I notified ICO Dispatch of the possible drowning and that I would be enroute. Ripley county deputies arrived on scene and began life saving measures on the victim, but advised he appeared to be deceased.    
    
At approximately 18:23 hours I arrived on scene. I had to travel down a dirt trail through the woods. As I traveled down the trail, I observed several first responder vehicles and small finger of water branching from a larger lake. I approached and seen life saving measures being taken place on Victim. After approximately five minutes after my arrival life saving measures were stopped and Victim was pronounced deceased by Ripley County EMS. Ripley County Sheriff's Deputy advised Ripley County dispatch to notify the coroner. I notified ICO Dispatch that the victim had been pronounced deceased.   
    
At approximately 18:37 hours Indiana Conservation Officer arrived on scene. We began to document the scene and gather information. In the small finger of water, I seen three dead standing trees in the water and a tan colored kayak overturned in the water. In close vicinity to the standing trees, along the bank, I observed the victim laying on his back wearing camouflage cargo style pants, a green long sleeve shirt and black lace up boots. In front of the victim I saw where mud had been dragged out of the pond and the grass matted down, where the victim had been drug from the pond. I saw several distraught Hispanic males. One of the males was covered in mud and his clothing was wet.   
    
Officer began to gather information and statements from the Hispanic males who witnessed the incident. He also gathered a statement from Deputy who was first on scene. I photographed the scene and returned to assist Officer.   
    
We interviewed several witnesses, all but one did not speak English. We interviewed a witness named Subject1, who spoke very little English but was understandable. He served as our translator for interviewing the other witnesses. All three of the witnesses stated they were on the other side of the lake. Two on the dam and one directly across from the victim on a peninsula. They observed Victim overturn his kayak and go straight underwater and not resurface. Subject1, who recovered Victim from the bottom of the lake, saw the incident happen and ran to the other side which took approximately five minutes to run to the side of the victim. He said he jumped in the water and recovered Victim who was under the water for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. He thought that the water was approximately 10 to 15 feet deep. He said that Victim had consumed alcoholic beverages earlier in the day. He also stated that they had permission from the landowner to be down there to fish.    
    
The Ripley County Coroner arrived and took possession of the deceased victim and transported him to the Hamilton County, Ohio Coroner's Office. An autopsy was scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday June 25, 2022.    
    
Officer and I returned to the scene to gather an accurate depth of the area of water where the incident took place. We measured the depth to be approximately 7 feet deep. We also found a small sleeve like bag full of unopened alcoholic beverages near the scene.   
    
On June 25, 2022, Officer and I attended the autopsy at the Hamilton County Ohio Coroner's office. Preliminary findings suggest that Victim had drown due to water found in his lungs, stomach, and nasal cavities.   
   
Final coroner report is pending along with toxicology reports.   	   
     
    
    
    
 


BARDID: IN-2022-0040
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 20:40:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Sullivan Lake
NearestCityorTown: Sullivan
County: Sullivan
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
AccidentCause2: Overloading
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude: 
A boat had a mechanical issue. This resulted in a single boat accident. 
Details of the Investigation/Incident: 
        On July 2, 2022 at approximately 8:40PM, I, Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) and ICO 2, received a call from Indiana Conservation Officer Dispatch of a boat sinking at Sullivan Lake in Sullivan County. We asked if there was any indication of anyone that was not accounted for. We were informed that all individuals were out of the water and that Sullivan County Sheriff's Department would take the initial report.  
        On July 3, 2022, ICO 2 and I responded to the area and began our investigation into the boat sinking. The boat located the idle zone at the handicap ramp of Sullivan Lake. When we arrived, we noticed the boat was overturned and the bow was above the water. The boat was in approximately seven feet of water.  
ICO 2 and I attached a tow line from the Sullivan Lake ICO Boston Whaler and were able to successfully bring the boat to the shore. ICO 2 called the owner, who said that he would meet at the ramp with the trailer. BOAT OWNER arrived with the operator, OP1, his wife, PAX1, and his daughter. We were unable to safely bring the boat to the ramp. A group of anonymous good Samaritans came to help overturn the boat and get it safely on the trailer. We were able to successfully pull the boat up to the shore. During the retrieval of the boat, the windshield and the trolling motor took some significant damage. The windshield had shattered on the rocks as the boat was pulled in. 
        ICO 2 and I inspected the boat. The boat did not have a registration sticker. I ran the registration, and the return came back expired since 2011. BOAT OWNER stated that he had purchased the boat and had it in a mechanic shop for repairs.  
        ICO 2 spoke with BOAT OWNER and had him take the boat to the boat ramp to see if there were any leaks in the back. When he returned, ICO 2 informed me that the boat seemed to be taking on a large amount of water through a rivet in the stern.  
        As ICO 2 was speaking with BOAT OWNER, I spoke with OP1 and PAX1. OP1 said that there were 9 people on the boat at the time that it sunk. OP1 and PAX1 listed the names of everyone on board. OP1 and PAX1 said that they had all met up to watch the fireworks together in the idle zone. They said that they had personal flotation devices for everyone on board and ensured that all of the children had them on. They left the boat ramp in the handicap dock and anchored in the idle zone to swim. OP1 and PAX1 stated that there was no alcohol on board and that PAX1 'had a few drinks prior to departing but OP1 didn't drink anything.' OP1 said that 'everyone had started to get back on the boat, and there was a large amount of water coming in from the back of the boat. We tried to get everyone to shift to the front of the boat and water came up over the transom. At that point we realized that PAX2 did not know how to swim and hung on to an igloo ice cooler. All of the children were pulled into the shore.' OP1 and PAX3 were the only adults that could swim. Once everyone was out of the water, PAX1 did a roll call of everyone by name. PAX1 said that there was no one left in the water.  
        ICO 2 and I spoke with BOAT OWNER asked him how many personal flotation devices were on board. He said that he had purchased a six pack before the party had left and that was all that was on board. He also was aware that his registration was expired and 'did not want to renew it until he knew that the boat was in good working condition.' He loaned the boat to a friend and let him test it. ICO 2 and I told BOAT OWNER that there were discrepancies that we would follow up on. I told him that I would follow up with him and see what the status of the boat is, following a mechanic looking at it. 
          I received the notes from the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office and noticed that the deputy that conducted the investigation on the second, stated that there was one more name, PAX 4.
As I was placing the names of the passengers into the system, I discovered that PAX2 and PAX3 have active warrants for arrest.  
On August 19, 2022, I issued two citations to OP1: Personal flotation devices not on board for all passengers and operating an overloaded boat. 
I swear or affirm under the penalties of perjury, as specified by Indiana Code 35-44-2-1, that the forgoing representations are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. 
Attachments: 
(13) Photographs on Idrive 
Current Disposition:   
Forwarded to District Five Command for review.


BARDID: IN-2022-0041
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-10 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cecil M. Harden Lake
NearestCityorTown: Rockville
County: Parke
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Unknown
AccidentEvent1: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
AccidentCause2: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:    
I responded to a call of a boat accident on a state property. One individual was transported to the hospital with a possible broken foot.     
 Details of Investigation/Incident:     
  On July 10, 2022, at or about 1:00 P.M., I, Indiana Conservation Officer responded to a call from Parke County dispatch of a boat crash on Cecil M. Harden Lake, Parke County. I responded along with Indiana Conservation Officers. Parke County dispatch informed me that the individual involved in the crash was at Boat Rental.     
  We arrived at or about 1:10 PM. The victim was sitting on a boat docked at the Boat Rental. She informed me that she was operating a personal watercraft with her husband as a passenger.   
  OP1 made a sharp turn and both her and PAX1 were ejected from the watercraft. OP1 was ejected on the port side of the watercraft and suffered an injury on her right foot. PAX1 was not injured during the ejection. No damage was made to the personal watercraft during the crash. The watercraft had been rented by PAX1 from Boat Rental.     
  Bellmore First Responders responded to the call and rendered medical aide to OP1. There was some swelling on her right foot, and she complained of a high degree of pain. Parke County Medical 3 arrived and transported OP1 to Ascension St. Vincent Clay Hospital.   
    I swear and affirm under I.C. 35-44-2-1 the penalty of perjury, that the forgoing information and the representations made herein are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.   
    
Indiana Conservation Officer 
Attachments:    
Photos (6)   
    
Current Disposition:    
Submitted to District Command for Approval   
   


BARDID: IN-2022-0042
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-07-16 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent3: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Weather
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:  
I responded to a sinking houseboat in the Allen's Creek area of Monroe reservoir. The boat remained partially submerged, was marked, and a boat accident report completed. 
Details of Investigation/Incident: 
        On July 16th, 2022, at approximately 3:05 p.m., I, Indiana Conservation officer (ICO) along with ICO 2 were dispatched to a sinking houseboat on Monroe Reservoir near the Allen's Creek area. Upon arrival, I observed a blue and white houseboat bearing Indiana watercraft registration, near the middle of the lake, with its bow visibly lower in the water than the stern. The occupants were struggling to get the boat closer to shore and attempting to get valuable items onto another boat that was assisting. Upon making contact, ICO boarded the houseboat and attempted to assist OP1 in getting it to shore. It was soon apparent that the vessel was not responding to attempts to steer it to shore as one of the two motors stopped working, and the decision was made to evacuate the boat before it sank. (It should be noted that all occupants of the houseboat had donned personal flotation devices prior to evacuating the boat) 
        Minutes after the occupants were safely onboard our patrol boat, the houseboat was submerged, leaving approximately 10-15 feet of the bow exposed. We quickly gathered large items that had floated from the houseboat. An immediate interview determined that the occupants were unsure of the reason the houseboat began to take on water. WITNESS was a friend that boarded the vessel in an attempt to help remove valuable items. Both OP1 and PAX1 stated that they were leaving the cove area near Will Sowders Rd. a good distance from shore when they thought they heard a “thud”. Shortly after, the boat began to take on water. PAX1 stated that she called OP1's father and he said to take their time due to rough waves and try to get to shore. PAX1 stated that she checked the bow storage compartment for water, and it was dry. She stated that she then went to the hull living area and observed ankle deep water that appeared to be entering the port side of the vessel, near the stairs. It was at this time, approximately 3:15 p.m., that myself and ICO arrived on scene.  
        After transferring the occupants to a family members boat, we stayed on scene and deployed a bright orange bouy in an attempt to warn other boaters of the protruding hull. It should be noted that the hull was protruding approximately 10' out of the water and was clearly visible. In a follow up interview, OP1 advised that she returned to the boat and placed lighted beacons on the hull as an overnight warning device. In a follow up interview with PAX1, she stated that although she is relatively new to boating, she was concerned at the amount of water the vessel was taking on due to waves coming over the bow. At this time, the cause of the accident cannot be determined.  
        Photographs will be included on the I-drive. No further action taken. 
  
Additional:  
On Thursday July 21, 2022, ICO was present for the removal of the houseboat. He advised that there was damage to the port side of the hull consistent with striking an object under the surface of the water. The damage was in the area that PAX1 stated she saw water entering the boat. Photos of the recovery and damage will be added to the file by ICO. 
  
Attachments: 
Photos (I drive) 
Indiana boating accident report 
  
Applicable Statutes: 
N/A 
Current Disposition: 
This report completed and submitted for approval on July 28th, 2022. 
 


BARDID: IN-2022-0043
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-16 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:10:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Bass Lake
NearestCityorTown: Knox
County: Starke
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Details of this accident were not witnessed and the description is based on the statements of operator #1/#2. 

Operator #1 was following operator #2 headed north on bass lake.  Both vehicles were travelling at approximately 20-30 mph.  Operator #1 was jumping the wake of vehicle #2 by slaloming, or zigzaging from left to right.  Operator #2 slowed, causing vehicle #1 to impact the left side of vehicle #2.  Operator #1 was ejected into the water.  Operator #1 was assisted to shore by operator #2 and a good samaritan. 

Operator #1 suffered a lacerated liver, a collapsed right lung, fractured all right side ribs, and had extensive internal bleeding.  He was airlifted to south bend memorial hospital and is currently receiving advanced medical care in intensive care unit.  Damages to vehicle #1 are expected to exceed $1000.00.    

Operator #2 sustained a small laceration on his forehead near the hairline.  He refused medical care.  A scuff to the underside of the bow was the only visible damage to vehicle #2.

Both operators were believed to be wearing pfds and safety lanyards.  

Operator #1 had the strong odor of alcohol and admitted to consuming 4 beers.  Subpeona for blood alcohol content is still pending.

Operator #2 admitted to drinking but showed no signs of impairment.  He refused chemical testing and was cited for refusal.


BARDID: IN-2022-0044
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Upper Fish Lake
NearestCityorTown: Fish Lake
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Restricted vision
AccidentCause2: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
VESSEL ONE WAS HEADED SOUTHWEST AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN OPERATOR ONE NOTICED A KAYAK IN HIS PATH OF TRAVEL. OPERATOR ONE TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE KAYAK. UPON DOING SO, VESSEL ONE COLLIDED WITH VESSEL TWO WHICH WAS TRAVELING NORTHEAST AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED UNDER POWER FROM AN ELECTRIC TROLLING MOTOR. OPERATOR ONE STATED HIS VIEW WAS RESTRICTED BY A PEDASTAL SEAT MOUNTED ON THE BOW OF VESSEL ONE.

THE PORT-SIDE BOW OF VESSEL ONE STRUCK THE PORT SIDE GUNWALE OF VESSEL TWO. THE COLLISION DENTED THE PORT-SIDE GUNWALE AND SHATTERED THE PORT-SIDE WINDSHIELD OF VESSEL TWO. VESSEL ONE SUSTAINED A LARGE-SIZED DENT IN THE PORT-SIDE BOW.

OPERATOR ONE HAD BEEN CONSUMING ALCOHOL, BUT PASSED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTING. OPERATOR ONE RECIEVED A CITATION FOR EXCEEDING THE SMALL LAKE SPEED LIMIT OF 10MPH. A PASSENGER OF VESSEL TWO COMPLAINED OF PAIN BUT REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT.


BARDID: IN-2022-0046
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-24 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Hidden Valley Lake
NearestCityorTown: Lawrenceburg
County: Dearborn
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Grounding
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
I WAS ADVISED BY WITNESS, STATEMENTS OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WITNESS ADVISED THAT HE AND HIS WIFE WERE WALKING DOWN THE DOCK TO MEET UP WITH FRIENDS. WHEN A BOAT AT THE BOAT SLIP WAS TRAILERING THEIR BOAT. THE BOAT WAS BEING OPERATED BY OP1, OP1'S HUSBAND PUSHED HER BACK OFF THE TRAILER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS AND LINE THE BOAT BACK UP. WITNESS ADVISED WHEN OP1 PUT THE BOAT IN REVERSE THE BOAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE DOCK. THIS IS WHEN OP1 ACCIDENTALLY ACCELERATED THE BOAT FORWARD AND DROVE IT UP ON THE DOCK, STRIKING VICTIM WALKING ON THE DOCK. THE BOW OF THE BOAT HIT VICTIM KNOCKING HER INTO A SUPPORT POLE ON THE DOCK. WITNESS STATED, HE THEN TRANSPORTED VICTIM TO ST. ELIZABETH DEARBORN AT APPROXIMATELY 0030HRS JULY 24, 2022. VICTIM WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HOSPITAL FOR CONCERNS OF INTERNAL BLEEDING.


BARDID: IN-2022-0047
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-31 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:07:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Syracuse Lake
NearestCityorTown: Syracuse
County: Kosciusko
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fall in vessel
AccidentEvent2: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
OP1 ADVISED HE WAS SLOWLY DRIVING THE PWC WHEN A WAKE BOARD BOAT PULLING A TUBE MADE A TURN IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. HE WAS FOCUSED ON WATCHING THE BOAT AND TUBE TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE HE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. OP1 DID NOT SEE THE WAKE FROM THE BOAT AND WAS NOT BRACED FOR THE IMPACT. THE WAKE MADE OP1 LUNGE FORWARDS CAUSING HIS ARM TO HIT THE MIRROR BEFORE ROLLING OFF THE SIDE OF THE PWC. OP1 REBOARDED THE PWC AND REALIZED HIS ARM HAD A LARGE LACERATION. HE TRANSPORTED HIMSELF BACK TO SHORE AND WAITED FOR MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO ARRIVE. AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT OP1 DECIDED TO SELF-TRANSPORT TO GOSHEN HOSPITAL WHERE HE RECEIVED 12 STITCHES FOR HIS LACERATION.


BARDID: IN-2022-0048
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-08-06 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Monroe Reservoir
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentEvent3: Fall in vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Improper lookout
AccidentCause3: Restricted vision
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:   
ON AUGUST 6TH, 2022, I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER (ICO), WAS WORKING OUT OF MY FULLY MARKED PATROL BOAT, WEARING MY DEPARTMENT ISSUED CLASS C BOATING UNIFORM, NEAR CUTRIGHT SRA ON MONROE RESERVOIR. AT OR ABOUT 7:33 P.M., I RECEIVED A TRANSMISSION FROM ICO CENTRAL DISPATCH STATING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BOAT COLLISION NEAR THE FAIRFAX BOAT LAUNCH. I IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED MY LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND STARTED IN THAT DIRECTION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I HAD TO REDUCE MY SPEED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE RESPONSE BECAUSE OF REDUCED VISIBILITY FROM ISOLATED HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL. 
UPON ARRIVAL, AT APPROXIMATELY 7:49 P.M., I OBSERVED TWO STATIONARY PONTOON BOATS WITH A PASSERBY RUNABOUT STYLE BOAT ASSISTING ONE OF THEM. I COULD ALSO SEE THAT MONROE COUNTY FIRE AND EMS HAD ARRIVED AT THE BOAT LAUNCH. THE BOAT THAT WAS BEING ASSISTED DISPLAYED INDIANA BOAT REGISTRATION (BOAT #2) AND WAS BLUE AND TAN IN COLOR. I ASKED A MALE ON THE ASSISTING BOAT, IF EVERYONE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR AND IF THERE WAS ANYONE INJURED. HE STATED THAT ALL OCCUPANTS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR, AND THAT HE AND HIS PASSENGERS, HAD HELPED TRANSPORT THE INJURED PASSENGERS TO SHORE WHERE THEY WERE BEING EVALUATED BY EMS. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT GOOD SAM INFORMED ME THAT THE FEMALE WHO WAS CURRENTLY OPERATING THE OTHER BOAT, A BLUE AND WHITE PONTOON COVERED IN FLAGS AND BEARING INDIANA BOAT REGISTRATION (BOAT #1), WAS NOT THE OPERATOR DURING THE COLLISION AND HAD SWITCHED PLACES WITH THE "MAN IN THE WHITE SHIRT" WHEN THEY STEERED THEIR BOAT AWAY FROM WITNESSES AFTER THE CRASH. GOOD SAM STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO LEAVE THE SCENE BY THE WAY THEY WERE ACTING AND KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE FROM THE ACCIDENT, INSTEAD, THEY USED THE COVER OF DISTANCE TO ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL THE IDENTITY OF THE OPERATOR.
BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSE TO THE DOCKS AT THE BOAT LAUNCH, I SUGGESTED WE MOVE THE BOATS OFF THE MAIN LAKE AND TO THE DOCKS FOR SAFETY. BOAT #2 HAD HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE REAR AND WAS DISABLED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR AND STEERING CONSOLE. GOOD SAM OFFERED TO ASSIST IN TOWING IT TO THE DOCK WHILE I CHECKED ON THE OTHER BOAT THAT WAS ANCHORED APPROXIMATELY 30 YARDS AWAY. WHEN I MADE CONTACT WITH THE OCCUPANTS OF BOAT #1, A FEMALE WAS IN THE OPERATOR SEAT. I VERIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THAT THEIR BOAT WAS OPERATIONAL. I THEN ESCORTED THEM WITH MY BOAT TO THE DOCK. 
ONCE THE BOATS WERE SECURED AT THE DOCK, I SPOKE WITH THE WITNESSES AGAIN WHO VERIFIED THAT THE MAN IN THE WHITE SHIRT, LATER IDENTIFIED AS OP1, WAS OPERATING BOAT #1 DURING THE COLLISION. I ASKED THE FEMALE FROM BOAT #1 TO JOIN ME ON SHORE. I ASKED HER TO GO OVER THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND DURING THE CRASH. SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS OPERATING THE BOAT AND SHE DIDN'T SEE BOAT #2 IN FRONT OF THEM BECAUSE THE SUN WAS IN HER EYES. I ASKED HER IF SHE WAS SURE SHE WAS THE OPERATOR BECAUSE MULTIPLE WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW HER SWITCH PLACES WITH OP1 AFTER THE COLLISION. SHE AGAIN STATED THAT SHE WAS THE OPERATOR BUT SEEMED HESITANT WHEN PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION. I REMINDED HER THAT PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH, AND I NEEDED THE TRUTH. SHE PUT HER HEAD DOWN AND RELUCTANTLY SAID YES, HE WAS, BUT IT WAS HER IDEA TO SWITCH PLACES BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO GET INTO TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LOSE HIS CDL. I THEN FOLLOWED OP1 TO THE RESTROOM IN THE BOAT LAUNCH PARKING LOT AT THE SAME TIME ICO WAS ARRIVING ON SCENE. 
I ASKED OP1 IF HE WOULD GO OVER THE INCIDENT WITH ME AND HE ALSO STATED THAT OP1 WAS THE OPERATOR. HE SAID, "I TOLD HER SHE WAS GONNA HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE BOAT BECAUSE, TODAY WAS MY DAY TO HAVE FUN". HE SAID THAT THE SUN WAS IN HER EYES, AND SHE NOR HE SAW THE BOAT STOPPED AHEAD OF THEM. I ASKED HIM, IF OP1 WAS DRIVING, WHY ARE WITNESSES SAYING THAT YOU WERE THE OPERATOR, TO WHICH HE SAID, "THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION". DURING OUR CONVERSATION HE REMAINED ADAMANT THAT HE WAS NOT THE OPERATOR DURING THE CRASH AND STATED, HE ONLY OPERATED IT TO PULL IT OFF THE OTHER BOAT AFTER THE COLLISION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NEITHER WITNESS RECOLLECTION OF THE ACCIDENT, OR THE BOAT CRASH RECONSTRUCTION INDICATE THAT THE BOATS WERE EVER CONNECTED AFTER THE COLLISION. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT DURING OUR CONVERSATION, I COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMING FROM OP1'S PERSON, AND HIS EYES APPEARED TO BE VERY BLOODSHOT AND WATERY. 
AFTER REAFFIRMING WITH OP1 AND THE MALE PASSENGER OF BOAT #1 WHO WAS ALSO RELUCTANT TO GIVE ME INFORMATION, THAT OP1 WAS THE OPERATOR, MYSELF AND ICO 2 ESCORTED OP1 TO THE PARKING LOT. I THEN INFORMED OP1 THAT ICO 2 WOULD BE TRANSPORTING HIM TO THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL FOR SFST'S SHOULD HE WISH TO DO SO AND A CERTIFIED BREATH TEST. AT THAT POINT, ICO 2 PLACED OP1 INTO HAND RESTRAINTS AND TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE JAIL. (SEE ICO 2'S SUPPLEMENT REPORT). 
I RETURNED TO THE DOCK TO SPEAK WITH THOSE THAT REMAINED ON SCENE. I THANKED THE WITNESSES FOR THEIR HELP AND AFTER COLLECTING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION, ADVISED THEM THEY COULD LEAVE. ALL OCCUPANTS OF BOAT #2 EXCEPT OP2, HAD GONE TO IU BLOOMINGTON HOSPITAL AS HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE WITH A POSSIBLE BROKEN JAW. 
I MET WITH OP2 WHO WAS PACING AROUND ON THE DOCK. OP1 EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD BEEN SITTING STATIONARY IN THE WATER FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND THAT HIS DAUGHTER'S, WERE IN THE WATER AT THE STARBOARD STERN AREA OF THE BOAT ON A TUBE. HIS WIFE, WAS ASSISTING WITH THE LADDER IN THE SAME AREA OF THE BOAT. OP1 SAID THAT HIMSELF, HIS SON, DAUGHTER, AND FRIENDS, WERE ALL INSIDE THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE BOAT. AT THE POINT THEY REALIZED A BOAT WAS TRAVELING TOWARD THEM, OP1 JUMPED ONTO THE STERN AREA OF HIS BOAT AND BEGAN WAVING HIS ARMS AND YELLING TO GET THE APPROACHING BOATS ATTENTION. HE STATED THAT HE WENT AIRBORNE DURING THE COLLISION AND ENDED UP IN THE WATER. THE BOAT NARROWLY MISSED TWO SUBJECTS PRIOR TO STRIKING HIS BOAT. 
THE IMPACT KNOCKED VICTIM 1 FROM THE STERN INTO THE WATER AND SHE STATED THAT HER LIFE JACKET WAS RIPPED OFF HER BODY. TWO PASSENGERS JUMPED INTO THE WATER ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE BOAT JUST BEFORE IMPACT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE JARRED AROUND ON BOARD WHERE THEY SUSTAINED INJURIES. OP1 ALSO NOTED THAT, THE OCCUPANTS OF BOAT #1 NEVER OFFERED TO ASSIST. INSTEAD, THEY KEPT THEIR DISTANCE EVEN WHEN HIS WIFE WHO WAS STRUGGLING IN THE WATER, WAS YELLING FOR SOMEONE TO THROW HER A LIFE JACKET. HE STATED HOW GRATEFUL HE WAS FOR THE HELP HE RECEIVED FROM GOOD SAM. AFTER GIVING HIS ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT, OP1 LEFT THE SCENE TO JOIN HIS FAMILY AT THE HOSPITAL. 
I REMAINED ON SCENE UNTIL ASSISTANCE ARRIVED TO HELP ME REMOVE BOAT #2 FROM THE WATER AND PUT IT ON THE TRAILER THAT OP1 LEFT BEHIND. OP1'S SON WOULD LATER ARRIVE AND TRAILER BOAT #1. AFTER ALL INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS HAD LEFT THE SCENE, BOTH BOATS WERE SECURED IN THE LOCKED SERVICE AREA AT FAIRFAX SRA SO THAT A BOAT ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION COULD BE PERFORMED BY LT. (SEE LT. BOAT ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION). THE NEXT DAY, ICO DETECTIVE AND I MET WITH ALL INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS EXCEPT OP1 AND CONDUCTED IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS. (SEE DET. SUPPLEMENT REPORT). ALONG WITH PHOTOS OF INJURIES SUSTAINED BY HIS FAMILY, OP1 ALSO SENT ME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HIS WIFE HAD TAKEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WHICH CLEARLY SHOW OP1 IN THE OPERATOR SEAT. 
OP1 WAS BOOKED INTO MONROE COUNTY JAIL AND CHARGED WITH BWI WITH SERIOUS BODILY INJURY/IC 35-46-9-6, (LEVEL 6 FELONY) DUE TO HIS IMPAIRED OPERATION AND INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE VICTIMS. I AM ALSO REQUESTING OP1 BE CHARGED.


BARDID: IN-2022-0049
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-31 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Monroe
NearestCityorTown: Bloomington
County: Monroe
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Drug
AccidentCause3: Overloading
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:  
Boating infraction leads to operator being arrested for Boating While Intoxicated and Resisting Law Enforcement after his boat capsized and all occupants were rescued.   
Details of the Investigation/Incident:  
On July 31, 2022, at 7:26pm., I was patrolling the East side of the Causeway on Lake Monroe in a marked patrol boat equipped with red and blue emergency lights and siren. I was also in my full Class B uniform. I was patrolling the area of Two Herons Marina after a complaint of a speeding boat with 6 occupants in it. I located a boat that I noticed was up on plane, traveling at a higher rate of speed than allowed on this portion of Lake Monroe. I activated my emergency red and blue lights and drove towards the speeding boat. As I got closer, I activated my siren in an attempt to get them to stop. The boat slowed and turned around 180 degrees. A large wake the boat had made came over the bow of the boat causing a large amount of water to enter the boat. It appeared that the operator tried to throttle out of it but was not successful.  The boat then capsized, and all occupants were in the water. I notified dispatch of the accident and requested additional units.   
I verbally made sure that everyone was accounted for. Everyone in the water said that all of them had surfaced. I pulled alongside the sunken boat to begin pulling people from the water. I noticed there was life jackets floating in the water, but I did not remember anyone having them on. The adults were frantically trying to have the children put on the life jackets. I eventually got everyone in the boat. The operator had a cut on his right forearm. That was the only injury I noticed. A buoy was tied to the boat in the event the boat sank totally. While transporting the group of 6 to the shoreline, I observed an odor commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage coming from the persons I had in the boat.   
I transported all subjects back to the shoreline and emergency medical personnel began treating the operator's injury. I obtained everyone's name for my report. When OP1 was done with EMS, he came back over and spoke with me. He stated that he just got the boat running and was trying it out when the boat sank. He stated that the bilge pump was not working and that they were taking on water. OP1 said that he got it working where it was pumping water again. OP1 believed that the aerator was leaking water into the boat. I noticed that OP1s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. I also noticed an alcoholic beverage odor coming from his person. OP1 was displaying signs of impairment. I asked OP1 if he had anything to drink today. OP1 advised that he had one shot of whiskey today. I asked him if he would do some field sobriety for me, so I knew that he was ok. OP1 did not want to because of being worked up from the accident. OP1 did state that he would do a portable breathe test (PBT).   
I offered OP1 the pbt, after instructing him how to blow into the device. OP1 acted as if he was blowing into it, but was not, and the device advised me of an insufficient sample with a blowing symbol. This confirmed to me that OP1 was not blowing into the device properly. This is a common occurrence when people who have been drinking think they can blow easy and have a lower level. OP1 was instructed on how to blow, and the test resulted in a positive detection for alcohol, .167. At that time, I read OP1 implied Consent. OP1 began to argue with me about just doing a test and now I was wanting him to do another one. I explained to OP1 that this pbt is just a tool we use in the field and that we have to have a certified test, either by breath or a phlebotomist drawing blood at the hospital. I asked him three times if he would submit to a chemical test, with all times him wanting to argue that he just done the test. I advised OP1 to place his hands behind his back and that he was under arrest. OP1 pulled away and began to run away from me. Two officers had arrived to help me. With their assistance, OP1 was taken to the ground and placed into handcuffs. While OP1 resisted law enforcement, he sustained a small cut to his knee and his cut on his forearm began to bleed again. Medical staff was summoned to the scene again to treat OP1 for his injuries. EMS arrived and cleaned his cuts and wrapped gauze around them. OP1 then began to calm down and wasn't a problem the rest of the time he was in my custody.   
My attention then was directed towards a red truck that pulled up towards our location. A female got out of the truck and walked our way. She began to yell and holler at OP1 about his actions. Myself and Officers addressed the issue of her making a scene and got her to calm down. She was identified as SUBJECT 1. SUBJECT 1 stated that her daughter, was with OP1 earlier on the boat. SUBJECT 1 stated that she was notified that her daughter was intoxicated and was needing picked up. SUBJECT 1 found her daughter laying on the side of the shore, intoxicated to the point she was passed out. SUBJECT 1 got her in her truck and she was laying in the back seat. We checked on PAX1 and she was still un-responsive, and we believed that she had more than likely been under the influence of illegal drugs, as well as being intoxicated. We requested an ambulance to check her out. SUBJECT 1 stated that PAX1 was getting ready to go to rehab sometime really soon. All this makes me believe that there might have been more than just alcohol on board the boat with everyone.   
I then transported OP1 to dispatch, where I began the process of typing a search warrant for a blood draw. Once I completed the affidavit, I called Monroe County Dispatch who connected me with the on-call judge. I spoke with the honorable over the telephone. The judge swore me in, and I began to give my testimony on my probable cause for the search warrant. After reading the probable cause affidavit to her, she advised she found probable cause for the search warrant and for me to sign her name to the search warrant.   
I then took the warrant and OP1 to IU hospital. Once there, the search warrant was executed, and blood was drawn from OP1 as evidence for this case at 10:30pm by nurse. The evidence collected was placed in the supplied viles and will be sent off for certified testing/analysis. OP1 was also medically cleared to be able to go to jail.   
OP1 was transported to the jail without incident. OP1 was given a pbt at the jail as part of the book in process. The test resulted in .213. He was remanded to the jail staff on charges of:
35-44.1-3-1 Resisting law enforcement Class A Misdemeanor
  9-30-5-1 Operating While Intoxicated Class C Misdemeanor
Numerous citations will be added to the CAD and given to OP1. ICOs retrieved the submerged boat and towed it back to the shore. Blands Wrecker Service came and retrieved the boat after ICO towed the boat to the shore.   
On 08/02/2022 I went to Blands and took a few photos of the boat. I still didn't find any current registration numbers or model number. Dispatch was able to find some information through the Indiana BMV. The boat was a 1984 Jabee Bass Boat, fiberglass hull, 16 foot in length. The boat was grey and blue in color.   
Attachments:  
Photos  
Boat Crash Form  
Current Disposition:   
Submitted to District 6 for approval 08/01/2022


BARDID: IN-2022-0052
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-31 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:55:00
CoordinatesConfidence: NC
NameOfBodyOfWater: Robinson Lake
NearestCityorTown: Hobart
County: Lake
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Unknown
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator2 and operator1, arrived and went out in two kayaks. Operator1 had a small dog with him in his kayak. Both kayaks had life jackets, but they were not being worn. For an unknown reason operator1's kayak rolled upside down and he ended up in the water without a life jacket. 

Operator2 then attempted to rescue operator1, but she also ended up in the water without a life jacket. Subject was swimming with family, and he attempted to rescue the pair. Subject stated that both victims were combative with him, which is common in drowning victims. Subject was able to get ahold of operator2 and begin to bring her to shore, but operator1 went under water and did not resurface. Officers then arrived on scene at assisted bringing operator2 to shore. Neither operator2 or operator1 were strong swimmers. It was also operator1's first ever time in a kayak.


BARDID: IN-2022-0053
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-07-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:52:00
CoordinatesConfidence: C
NameOfBodyOfWater: Private lake
NearestCityorTown: Newburgh
County: Warrick
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Prelude:         
Two males were found deceased in a lake on private property near Newburgh Indiana.  Indiana Conservation Officers assisted in the investigation and a report was taken.          

Details of Investigation:         
         
July 30th 2022        
 
On July 30th 2022 I, Indiana Conservation Officer responded to a possible double drowning in Warrick County. When I arrived on scene I was directed to a lake behind a home under construction.        
 
I met with Warrick County Sheriff Detective who was near two deceased hispanic males.  I noticed both subjects had fishing line on or near them.  I was advised witnesses had already been talked to and pictures were being taken of the subjects.        
 
The lake was located south of the new construction and was approximately five acres in size.  There was a dock on the northwest end of the lake that had a white bucket, hammer, coke bottle and fishing gear on it.  There was a fishing line wrapped around a metal cleat on the south end of the floating dock.  There was nothing attached to either end of the line.        
 
I could see a boot,cardboard box, and paddle boat floating on the lake.  Near the dock were two locations of mainly dirt and little to no vegetation.  The outline of these areas matched the shapes of the peddle boat on the water and an aluminum canoe.        
 
There was not a paddle with the canoe so I met with the landowner who provided one.  I was able to use the canoe to retrieve the items on the lake and tow the peddle boat back the dock.  In addition to the boot, cardboard box and peddle boat additional items found were a bobber, pencil, Walmart bag, worm containers and fishing hooks.  One of the worm containers was empty the other still had worms inside.        
 
After collecting the items I navigated over to the peddle boat.  The boat was a red and white Sun Dolphin 5 and had a hat in the rear passenger side.   I was able to side tow the boat over to the dock where Officers helped dock it.   The items that were collected were documented by photo before collection and given to the site supervisor.      
 
Weather at the time of the accident would have been in the upper 70s with five to seven mile an hour winds from east to west.  The boat and items collected had floated to the west side of the lake.       
     
August 3rd 2022    
 
On August 3rd 2022 I received the Warrick County Sheriffs Office report on the incident.  It is included in the attachments of this report.      
      
Attachments:     
 
Photos 
Warrick County Report
Drowning Report
Boating Accident Report    
      
Disposition:     
 
District 7 for Review


BARDID: IN-2022-0054
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-09-10 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 07:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Silver Lake
NearestCityorTown: Rolling Prairie
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
VESSEL 1 WAS BEING OPERATED BY OPERATOR 1.  VICTIM 1 WAS HOLDING ONTO A BOOM AFFIXED TO THE PORT SIDE OF VESSEL 1 TO BAREFOOT SKI, WHILE VESSEL 1 WAS IN NEUTRAL. AS OPERATOR 1 ACCELERATED VESSEL 1, VICTIM 1 WAS THROWN FACE FIRST INTO THE WATER AND STRUCK THEIR HEAD ON THE BOOM AFFIXED TO VESSEL 1.  VICTIM 1 WAS WEARING A PFD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE NOT CONSIDERED AS FACTORS.


BARDID: IN-2022-0055
State: IN
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2022-10-08 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Michigan
NearestCityorTown: Michigan City
County: LaPorte
WaterConditions: Rough
HazardousWaters: -1
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Weather
AccidentCause2: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
(OCTOBER 8, 2022, AT 8:11 PM)     
I, INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER, WAS ON UNIFORMED PATROL IN ST JOSEPH COUNTY. AT APPROXIMATELY 8:11 PM (EASTERN TIME), I WAS CONTACTED BY DNR DISPATCH OF A DROWNING THAT OCCURRED AT WASHINGTON PARK BEACH IN LAPORTE COUNTY. I CONTACTED MICHIGAN CITY DISPATCH WHO ADVISED THAT OP1, WHO WAS IDENTIFIED BY HIS INDIANA STATE DRIVER'S LICENSE, WAS TRANSPORTED TO FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF A KITE SURFING ACCIDENT.
I ARRIVED AT THE FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM (CENTRAL TIME), WHERE I SPOKE TO INSTRUCTOR 1 WHO WAS AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT. OP1 HAD HIRED INSTRUCTOR 1 FOR A KITE SURFING LESSON. INSTRUCTOR 1 ARRIVED AT THE BEACH AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM AND STATED OP1 WAS AT THE BEACH BEFORE HE ARRIVED AND WAS PRACTICING "BODY DRAGGING." BODY DRAGGING IS THE ACTION OF A KITE SURFER HARNESSED INTO THE KITE AND BEING PULLED ON HIS SIDE NOT ON THE KITE SURFING BOARD. OP1'S LESSON STARTED AT AROUND 5:00 PM AND THEY CONTINUED TO PRACTICE BODY DRAGGING. OP1 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WET SUIT, PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE, A LITEWAVE KITE SURFING BOARD, AND A CABRINHA SWITCHBLADE KITE. OP1 WAS ALSO USING A RADIO HEADSET THAT ALLOWED HIM TO COMMUNICATE TO INSTRUCTOR 1 ON SHORE. DURING THEIR LESSON AT APPROXIMATELY 5:20 PM, INSTRUCTOR 1 STATED THAT OP1 BEGAN TO SAY THAT "HE FELT LIKE HE WAS DROWNING." INSTRUCTOR 1 STATED THAT HE SAW OP1 GO UNDER THE WATER AND OTHER KITE SURFERS IN THE AREA WENT OUT TO RESCUE HIM. OP1 WAS BROUGHT TO SHORE WHERE CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) WAS STARTED, AND DIALED EMERGENCY SERVICES.
OFFICERS FROM THE MICHIGAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE WITH MICHIGAN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 5:25 PM. OP1 WAS TRANSPORTED TO FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL WHERE A PULSE WAS FOUND AT 6:30 PM. MEDICAL STAFF MOVED OP1 TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT APPROXIMATELY 7:20 PM AND WAS PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT. 
(OCTOBER 10, 2022 AT 3:20 PM)
I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL INFORMING ME THAT OP1 WAS TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT PER THE FAMILY'S REQUEST. I RECEIVED THE CORONER'S REPORT (I DRIVE) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS. MICHIGAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT SENT ME THEIR CASE REPORTS AS WELL (I DRIVE).


BARDID: IN-2022-0057
State: IN
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2022-09-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Freeman
NearestCityorTown: Monticello
County: White
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
AccidentCause2: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
ON 09/04/2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 PM, I INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER WAS PATROLLING LAKE FREEMAN IN THE AREA OF VOLLEYBALL ISLAND. I LOCATED PARTIALLY SUBMERGED SUPRA SUNSPORT MOTORBOAT. THE BOAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 YARDS AWAY FROM THE ISLAND AND WAS ALMOST FULL OF WATER.  SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE AREA STATED THE BOAT CRASHED AND THE PERSON JUST LEFT IT THERE.     
UPON REPORTING MY FINDINGS TO ICO DISPATCH, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A CALL EARLIER FROM OP1. OP1 INFORMED ICO DISPATCH THAT HE HAD HIT AN OBJECT UNDERWATER AND HIS BOAT WAS SINKING.      
A GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE DOCK ADVISED ME THAT THE BOAT WAS BEING OPERATED BY A MALE AND AS HE WAS EXITING THE IDLE ZONE AT IDLE SPEED HIS BOAT CAME TO A STOP. THEY FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT ANOTHER BOAT PULLED THEM OFF A SUBMERGED OBJECT AND TOWED THEM BACK TO VOLLEYBALL ISLAND. LASTLY, THEY EXPLAINED THE SUBJECT GATHERED ALL HIS BELONGINGS FROM THE BOAT AND GOT INTO ANOTHER BOAT AND LEFT THE AREA.         
I CALLED OP1 TO GATHER DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE AND AFTER THE CRASH. OP1 STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON LAKE FREEMAN EXITING THE IDLE ZONE AT VOLLEYBALL ISLAND WHEN HIS BOAT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP APPROXIMATELY SIXTY YARDS SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN IDLE ZONES BUOYS. OP1 ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE HIS BOAT FROM THE OBJECT BY PUTTING HIS BOAT IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ANOTHER BOATER CAME TO HIS AID AND PULLED HIM OFF THE OBJECT HE WAS STUCK ON.     
ONCE OP1'S BOAT WAS OFF THE OBJECT, HE IMMEDIATELY SAW THAT IT WAS TAKING ON WATER AND WAS IN DANGER OF SINKING. OP1 WAS TOWED TO VOLLEYBALL ISLAND AND BEACHED HIS BOAT AND CALLED INDIANA CENTRAL DISPATCH. AFTER TALKING WITH CENTRAL DISPATCH, OP1 CLAIMED THAT THEY INFORMED HIM TO GO HOME ONCE HE HAD WORKED OUT A RECOVERY PLAN FOR HIS BOAT. OP1 ADVISED THAT DC MARINE IN MONTICELLO WAS GOING TO RECOVER HIS BOAT ON 09/06/2022. I GATHERED OP1'S EMAIL ADDRESS AND EMAILED HIM A BOAT CRASH FORM.     
ON 09/06/2022 I WENT  TO DC MARINE IN MONTICELLO AND . I TOOK PICTURES OF THE BOAT. I OBSERVED A VERY LARGE HOLE APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES WIDE AND 8 INCHES LONG ON THE VERY BOTTOM ON THE BOAT, IN THE EXACT MIDDLE OF THE BOAT.  THERE WERE A FEW SCUFF MARKS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT JUST BEFORE THIS HOLE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT I FOUND NO OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE INCIDENT.                        


BARDID: KS-2014-0001
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-05-18 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:20:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Tuttle Creek- 6 miles N of Man
NearestCityorTown: Manhattan
County: Riley
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
AccidentCause2: Weather
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
A jon boat, 14'' in length with three adults aboard, is operated in weather and water conditions that caused boat to swamp.  Two of three occupants rescued by a second boat.  Third adult and operator is recovered from location attached, and in immediate vicinity of incident.  The 1st boat carrying victims bow sank below surface and witnesses stated all three began an attempt to swim to shore south of incident.  The second boat that rescued the 2 injured persons was at location DMS N 39.28041052674811, W -96.63461780495709.  Boat was launched from ramp SW of incident location of N 39 17.008', W -096 38.116' by witness .  Witnesses came from south shore.  witness was on north shore and took picture.


BARDID: KS-2014-0002
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-05-24 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:36:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Hillsdale-3 miles NW of Paola
NearestCityorTown: Paola
County: Miami
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person departed vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On Saturday May 24th, 2014, shortly before 3:36 p.m., the victim was on board his vessel with his two young children. The vessel was a 19'' red in color Crownline boat with Missouri registration. At the time of the incident the vessel motor was turned off and the vessel was not underway, but was drifting with the wind. The conditions at the time of the incident were daytime, cloudy, and good visibility. Winds were moderate and waves were choppy. The air temperature was approximately 73 degrees F. Water temperature was approximately 70 degrees F. From the investigation, it was determined that one of the two small children dropped a toy water gun overboard and asked their father to retrieve it for them. Father voluntarily dove headfirst into the water to retrieve the toy gun. FATHER surfaced momentarily and started swimming toward the toy gun, began to struggle, and without retrieving the toy, turned and began swimming back toward the vessel. FATHER then went underwater and did not resurface. The boat continued to drift with the wind until another person, who was anchored and fishing nearby realized something was wrong and made contact with the boat. The initial 911 call was at 3:36 p.m.


BARDID: KS-2014-0003
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-06-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Elk City-4 miles NW of Indepen
NearestCityorTown: Independence
County: Montgomery
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Failure to vent
AccidentCause2: Ignition of spilled fuel or vapor
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
The operator and three other occupants were in the vessel as it was being backed into the water. Only the propeller was in the water when the operator told the driver of the pickup to stop. The operator said that he turned on the blower and then immediately tried to start the boat. On the second turn of the key the engine housing exploded into the air and a stream of fire ran down a channel from the stern to the bow. The two occupants sitting on the port side near the open channel were burned as they tried to exit the boat. The operator and front occupant did not get injured. The fire exstinguisher was used and the fire was put out. The 3 year old occupant and his mother were taken by abulance to Independence ER for severe burns.


BARDID: KS-2014-0004
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-05-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 09:18:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Milford-5 miles NW of Junction
NearestCityorTown: Junction City
County: Geary
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On 05/25/14 at 0922 hrs, the reporting officer was contacted and notified that a drowning had just occurred on Milford Lake. The information received was that the victim was fishing from a pontoon boat with his grandson, when he fell into the water trying to retrieve a fishing pole. The passenger of the pontoon, a juvenile, was left on the boat. The juvenile said that once he was in the water, the victim instructed him to throw him a lifejacket or he would drown, which the juvenile did. A second boater nearby saw the victim go into the water and then the juvenile yell for help, so they rode over to assist. The victim did not resurface. 

The reporting officer and other KDWPT officers began a search of the area, above and below the water with sonar and dragging equipment. During the search, a fishing pole was recovered that was identified as the one the victim was using. The search was called off for the day just before dark. On 05/26/14, the search resumed at approximately 0700 hrs. Officers again searched above and below the water with sonar and dragging equipment. A couple clothing items were retrieved from the water that were presumed to be the victim''s, but he was not located. 

Officers searched off and on throughout the day on 05/27/14 and 05/28/14 with no luck. On the afternoon of 05/28/14, the victim was located floating in the general search area. Officers recovered the body, which was identified as the victim. The county coroner arrived and removed the body from the scene to conduct an autopsy, which concluded that the victim died of drowning.


BARDID: KS-2014-0005
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-06-22 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:41:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Sebelius (Norton)-3 miles SW o
NearestCityorTown: Norton
County: Norton
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On the 22nd of June, 2014 at approximately 1541 hours, at Norton reservoir just north of Schoens Cove, subject was injured while riding on a Jet Ski driven by operator. The injury occurred while Operator made a sharp turn, throwing both him and Occupant off the craft. Occupant hit her head on Operator''s glasses giving Occupant a cut above her right eye. The injury occured prior to being thrown off. No other injuries were sustained. The craft was not damaged in the incident. Occupant was taken to Norton Medical Center where she received stitches to close the wound. Park Manager, was the first responder to the ramp to meet with Operator and Occupant. Park manager spoke to both Operator and Occupant and believed neither Operator nor Occupant to be under the affects of alcohol or drugs. At approximately 1700 hours, I spoke to Operator and Occupant at the Park Office. There, I gathered information for my report and took pictures of the craft and the injury.


BARDID: KS-2014-0006
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-06-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 09:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Storm
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Grounding
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
I received a call from Operator on 6/19/14 about his boat getting swamped. I asked Operator if anyone was in peril and he said no. Operator asked what he needed to do since the boat was damaged and insurance was going to take care of it. I told Operator to get the boat off the water and I would contact him when I was back from days off to do an accident report on it. I met Operator at his house on 6/24/14 and Operator walked me through what happened. Operator stated they were fishing by the cut in the dam area and were getting ready to head in due to the wind starting to pick up. Operator said when they started to accelerate, the engine kept running but the prop quit working. They then drifted over to the old dam area where the boat came to rest on the rocks. Shortly after this time, the wind picked up and the boat became swamped from the waves coming over the back of the vessel. The vessel hull also sustained extensive damage due to the rocking motion against the rocks. No one was injured during the ordeal and they were able to get the vessel off the water on 6/20/14.


BARDID: KS-2014-0007
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-06-21 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Hillsdale-3 miles NW of Paola
NearestCityorTown: Paola
County: Miami
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Unknown
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On Saturday June 21st, 2014, the victim and his neighbor had been operating their personal watercraft on Hillsdale Reservoir. Neighbor began to have trouble with his PWC so the two traveled back to the PWC boat ramp near Jayhawk Marina. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Neighbor was preparing to leave when the Victim stated he was staying to go out on the water for one more round. Neighbor left the lake. Victim did not return home. The next morning Neighbor noticed Victim''s vehicle was not in the driveway. Growing concerned, Neighbor returned to Hillsdale Lake, made contact with Park Ranger at approximately 10:00 a.m., and went out on the water to look for Victim. At approximately 10:45 a.m. Neighbor found the victim, Victim, deceased and face down in the water in the Wade Branch portion of the reservoir. Natural Resource Officer arrived on scene at approximately 10:56 a.m. Neighbor had moved the victim''s body a short distance closer to the shoreline. The personal watercraft was located at the shoreline nearby. Upon further investigation, the victim''s PWC had possible very minor damage to the front of the vessel. The victim had trauma on the face, neck, and left arm and shoulder consistent with striking a fixed object. The preliminary autopsy indicated freshwater drowning as the cause of death.


BARDID: KS-2014-0008
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-07-13 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cheney-20 miles W of Wichita
NearestCityorTown: Cheney
County: Reno
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentEvent3: Sinking
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Victim was driving his speed boat east towards the no wake zone around the east boat ramp at Cheney reservoir. Victim was traveling at appromiately 50 mile per hour. Several witnesses stated that it looked like his low profile boat hit a wave or a wake which caused the bow to lift into the air.When the bow came back down it hit another wake and nosed under the water. The boat then flipped end over end a couple of times and sank. Victim sustained injuries to his ribs and lungs from the impact. Bystander loaded Victim and his passenger into their boat and transported them to the dock. Victim was transported to a Wichita area hospital for treatment.


BARDID: KS-2014-0009
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-07-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentCause1: Other
OtherAccidentCause: unseen water hazard
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On July 26, 2014 NRO received a call from subject at 1930 hours. Subject stated their vessel had hit a submerged tree and they were being towed in by another boat. Subject wanted to know if a report needed to be made about the accident. NRO asked Subject if anyone was injured and Subject replied no. NRO asked if there was more than $2,000 damage to the boat and Subject stated she didn''t know but her motor no longer was working. NRO asked how fast she was going when they hit the tree and Subject replied around 25 mph and NRO advised her there was probably more than $2,000 damage. NRO advised he would meet Subject the next day for the report. NRO met Subject at 1622 hours on 7/27/14 and Subject explained how the accident happened. Subject advised they had just left the rock quarry at El Dorado Reservoir and had sped up to around 25 MPH when they hit something. Subject stated they were about 100 yards to the SE of the rock quarry and traveling in a SE direction. NRO advised Subject of all the trees in that area and Subject stated she is sure that is what they hit. Subject advised operator was driving the boat when it occurred and nobody was injured and NRO filled out the report.


BARDID: KS-2014-0010
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-07-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 11:33:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cheney-20 miles W of Wichita
NearestCityorTown: Cheney
County: Reno
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Weather
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
Victim started around 11:00 am and bystander inside a trailer heard Kite hit the water and ran outside to see Victim being drug down the lake face down . Bystander caught the kite around 100 yards down the lake near shore from his trailer near lot 42. Medical team was dispatched at11:45 and arrival time was 11:50. CPR was given from the time of pulling individual to shore and arrival of medical team. Victim was transported to Hutchinson Ks. to hospital and expired that evening at Hutchinson.


BARDID: KS-2014-0011
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-07-05 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Clinton-5 miles S of Lawrence
NearestCityorTown: Lawrence
County: Douglas
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
MachineryFailure: Engine
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On 07-05-2014 Officer received a report of a vessel fire at Boat Ramp #2 in Clinton State Park. Officer was advised no-one was injured and the fire had been put out by the time fire rescue arrived on scene. The vessel was impounded pending investigation as to the cause of the fire. 

On 07-06-2014 Officer met with owner of the vessel. Owner advised officer he had just purchased the vessel a few weeks prior and had not registered the vessel yet. Owner stated he had not modified the vessel in anyway since acquiring it. However the previous owner had installed an electric fuel pump. Prior to the incident Owner stated that he turned the blowers on to ventilate the engine compartment and looked inside the compartment and did not see nor smell fuel. 

On 07-07-2014 Officer met with Boating Enforcement Specialist. The two officers looked over the engine compartment. Due to damage sustained in explosion and fire officers were unable to determine if the blower system was operating properly. Officers also observed the starter solenoid appeared to be newer than other engine components. Officers determined the fire and explosion started on the starboard side of the engine. That is the area of the starter and solenoid.


BARDID: KS-2014-0012
State: KS
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2014-08-15 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:05:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Clinton-5 miles S of Lawrence
NearestCityorTown: Lawrence
County: Douglas
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
On 08-15-2014 Officer was called in response to a boat that had caught on fire near Boat Ramp 2, Clinton State Park, Clinton Lake, Douglas County, KS. Upon officer''s arrival at approximately 1835 HRS officer observed a 28 Ft, Beneteau Sail Boat, KS Registration; smoking after the fire was put out by Wakarusa, and Clinton Township Fire. The boat appeared to be a complete loss. 

Officer spoke with the operator at the time of the fire. Operator advised he and his son were the only people on the boat at the time of the fire. Operator advised officer the boat had a diesel engine and prior to going on the water his son, had filled the tank with gasoline. After receiving knowledge of the gasoline, Operator advised he and his son attempted to remove the gas from the tank and refuel with diesel fuel. 

Thinking most of the gas had been removed from the fuel tank they decided to burn what gas might still be in the tank. They made it as far as the no-wake buoy line. At which time the engine compartment began to smoke and the engine quit. 

At this time subject observed the vessel having problems and responded to the area. Subject used a tow rope and towed the sailboat to the docks at boat ramp 2. Once to the docks, Subject gave them his fire extinguisher. They used the fire extinguisher with little to no result in the fire. 

The fire eventually caused the ropes to melt allowing the boat to break away from the dock. Seeing that the boat was moving towards Marina Dock A, Subject and the operator once again tied to the boat and towed it to the boat ramp dock. During this second tow the mast of the sailboat fell over and made contact with Subject''s boat. The heat from the mast caused minor melting to the back seat, and minor damage to the hood cover on Subject''s boat. 

Fire Lt. took an initial report for the response. After conducting his investigation into the cause of the fire, he did not feel it was a case of arson. His report is attached.


BARDID: KS-2014-0013
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-05-19 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Neosho River-low-water dam at
NearestCityorTown: Humboldt
County: Allen
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentEvent3: Fall in vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator was traveling at cruising speed westbound on the Neosho River in a tiller steer flat bottom boat with a water jet motor when the boat struck a brush pile. The vehicle ramped onto the pile, and the lower unit of the motor was caught. When this occurred the boat stopped and pivoted almost 90 degrees port throwing all but one occupant from the starboard side. The operator was landed on by the occupant sitting next to him at the stern of the boat. The operator was impaled on a 4-5 inch log. 

On May 19, 2014 Officer1 responded to a request for water rescue after a vessel accident was reported near Humblolt KS in Allen County on the Neosho River. When Officer1 arrived at approximately 1718 hours the victims were already removed from the water. 

Officer1 spoke with Allen County Law Enforcement who was on scene, and advised that alcohol was likely the cause for the incident. Officer1 gave Deputy a copy of the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife Parks and Tourism Implied Consent Advisory for Boating Under the Influence to be delivered to the operator. OPERATOR was being prepped for medical air lift from the scene. A blood draw was conducted and the evidence was obtained. Officer1 packaged the evidence and later shipped it to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations Toxicology Lab for analysis. 

Officer1 then spoke to the other men who were in the boat. Victim3 said that he was seated in the bow of the boat facing the stern when the collision occurred. VICTIM3 said that the boat was on plane and came to an immediate stop turned port and all of the men but one were thrown from the boat on the starboard side. He said that they struck a brush pile and OPERATOR was on the brush pile with a log sticking through him. VICTIM3 said that he aided OPERATOR until help arrived to remove him from the water. VICTIM3 received some lacerations to his upper body. He refused transportation to the hospital, but later received stitches for some of his injuries. 

Officer1 also spoke with VICTIM2 on scene. VICTIM2 was in handcuffs due to a warrant for his arrest. VICTIM2 was advised of his Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with Officer1. VICTIM2 said that he was next to operator when the impact occurred. VICTIM2 describe the impact as the motor catching on something, the boat being forced strait up and spinning. When it spun VICTIM2 said he was thrown with operator and landed on top of him, forcing OPERATOR to be impaled. VICTIM2 was very upset, crying, and kept saying that he landing on OPERATOR probably killed him. VICTIM2 said that he held OPERATOR''S head out of the water and comforted him until help arrived. VICTIM2 said that all of the men on the boat had been drinking, but didn''t think they were intoxicated. VICTIM2 said that they were driving down the river to set some fishing lines. VICTIM2 received minor cuts and injuries and was transported to the jail by the Allen County Sheriff''s Dept because of the warrant. 

The boat was moved back to the OPERATOR family boat dock and ramp. Once on scene with the boat Officer1 photographed the boat. The only notable damage was to the lower unit of the out board motor. The motor was a jet and the directional hood to control forward and reverse was broken off and missing. With the boat was subject who said that he was also in the boat but saw the impact coming. When he noticed the collision about to happen he got low in the boat and was thrown inside of the boat but not ejected. He said that the boat ramped onto a log near the brush pile spun and everyone but him was thrown out. Subject said that he was the only man onboard that had not been drinking, but once to the ramp he did have a beer to calm his nerves. 

Subject said that OPERATOR runs that stretch of river nearly every day with that boat and knows that stretch like his own home.


BARDID: KS-2014-0014
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-08-01 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:55:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Fall in vessel
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
AccidentCause2: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
On August 1, 2014 at 1920 hours I was called to the scene of a jet ski accident at El Dorado Reservoir by Butler County Dispatch. I arrived at the scene which was by Bluestem area 4 campground at 1957 hours to talk with officers about what happened. They explained one person V2 was on the way to the hospital and the other V1 was in the campground area. I observed the vessels and noted heavy damage on the front of V2 and a small area of damage on the front of V1. I found from talking with the officers that V2 had sustained the damage on the right side of his body. I talked with V1 about what happened and V1 explained he was following V2 on the lake when V2 turned in front of him and he didn''t have enough time to avoid striking the vessel. I collected the vessel information and told them I would talk with him later. On August 2, 2014 I made contact with subject who owned the PWCs and whose son was involved. I found out the extent of the injuries that his son had. I inquired around the campgrounds if anyone witnessed the accident and one man stated he saw it occur. I asked subject2 to explain what he saw and he described V2 driving on the left side of V1. Subject2 stated V1 started turning to the right and "just ran over" V2. I asked if Subject2 knew either of the riders and Subject2 stated he didn''t and he just happened to be looking at the water when it happened. 
On August 8, 2014 I spoke with V2 about what happened from his point of view. V2 said they both took off at the same time with V2 ahead of V1. V2 said he noticed V1 jumping his wake so he stopped so he could talk with V1 about it. V2 stated he was almost stationary and had turned to the right when he saw V1 coming at him. V2 stated he didn''t have time to do anything but brace for impact. 
After reviewing all the information and damage, I have filed a charge of negligent operation against V1 with the county attorney in Butler county.


BARDID: KS-2014-0015
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-08-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: FISH Access Pond
NearestCityorTown: Netawaka
County: Brown
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentCause1: Unknown
DayofWeek: Monday
RedactedNarrative:
VICTIM was fishing by himself on a private pond that is leased by Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism for fishing purposes. He was reported missing and was found the following morning by Brown County Sheriff''s Department. VICTIM''s body was found floating face down next to the jon boat he had been fishing in. The boat was submersed bow down in approximately 7 feet of water the stern protruding out of the water pointed straight up. The bow of the boat was believed to be resting on the bottom of the pond. The oars had drifted to the West end of the pond. It is unclear whether VICTIM entered the water before the boat capsized or if the boat capsizing caused him to fall overboard. VICTIM''s wife indicated that VICTIM could not swim, but could only "doggy paddle." The exact time of the accident is unknown.


BARDID: KS-2014-0017
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-08-09 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Kanopolis-33 miles SW of Salin
NearestCityorTown: Kanopolis
County: Ellsworth
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Victim was being towed on a double tube with Subject. Operator took a turn at an estimated speed of 21-40 mph. The tube hit a wake and went airborne. When the tube landed it hit on the side throwing subject’s head into victim’s lower abdomen. The contact caused excessive bruising and Hematoma. Victim was taken to the hospital by POV. There it was determined nothing was broken. Victim was released and saw his doctor the next day. Doctor just prescribed medication to bring dowm the swelling.


BARDID: KS-2014-0018
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2014-11-08 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:21:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Tuttle Creek- 6 miles N of Man
NearestCityorTown: Manhattan
County: Riley
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Victim advised that he had launched his airboat at the ramp in Stockdale Cove and traveled into the narrow channel to see if there were any ducks staying in the upper end of the cove.  Victim advised that he had used the airboat all of last duck season and was comfortable operating the airboat in close quarter areas.  Victim said that he was traveling at approximately 10-15 mph when the accident occurred.  Victim advised that while he was traveling in the narrow channel he looked down for a second and when he looked up the airboat was headed towards the standing trees in the channel.  Victim swerved to miss the trees but it was too late and struck the trees on the port side of the boat.  Victim advised that he was thrown into the water and swam to shore, where he yelled for help.  Victim advised that the next thing he remembered was being in the hospital.  Victim advised that he had operated his airboat in the narrow channel numerous times and was aware of the trees and other hazards in the area.  Victim did advise that the trees were hard to see with the shadows created by the shoreline


BARDID: KS-2015-0001
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-02-03 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Clinton-5 miles S of Lawrence
NearestCityorTown: Lawrence
County: Douglas
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Sudden medical condition
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
Victim was operating his vessel using a trolling motor while fishing at Clinton Lake, Lawrence, Douglas County, KS. Victim suffered a seizure causing him to loose stability and fall overboard. Victim was recovered by his sister. Victim was taken to shore and transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for evaluation and treated for hypothermia.


BARDID: KS-2015-0002
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-03-29 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Pomona-25 miles S of Topeka on
NearestCityorTown: Vassar
County: Osage
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On March 29, 2015 at approximately 4:12 P.M. Officer was called by phone by the Osage County Sheriff Office. They told Officer that someone had found a body by 110 Mile Park boat ramp at Pomona Lake. Officer arrived on scene and helped retrieve body out of the water after coroner looked at the body. Officer, investigator and Corp of Engineer Ranger drove around the lake with the Corps boat. They found a blue Kayak approximately a quarter mile south of the body on the west shore. Investigator and Officer went back to the Kayak by land and retrieved it. Investigator and Officer also found a pair of running shoes approximately twenty five yards away from the Kayak. The family had told the sheriff that she had just purchased the kayak from Academy sports in Topeka, Kansas. Investigator went back to Academy sports and got a receipt that showed the deceased had purchased a kayak, paddle and throw cushion. Officer received the autopsy back from the Osage County sheriff and the blood alcohol was 0.16.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0003
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-04-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 10:45:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Rough
Wind: Strong
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with submerged object
AccidentEvent2: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On April 25, 2015 at 1055 hours I was contacted via Butler County Dispatch about a boat that was taking on water in the area North of Bluestem point at El Dorado Reservoir. I was given a contact number to a relative who was also in a boat nearby. I contacted the number and found that all occupants of the boat were fine and were currently loading onto the other boat. I informed them I would meet them at the Shady Creek Marina.
 
I arrived at the Marina at 1145 hours to meet Operator who informed me he was the owner and operator of the boat. I asked Operator what happened and he stated they were fishing and he was using the small motor to keep steady against the waves while they were fishing. Operator stated he looked back and noticed the back of the boat away from the waves was filling with water. I asked Operator if he had hit anything while on the water and Operator stated he knew about 5 minutes before they had bounced on rocks but didn''t think it was hard enough to damage the boat. Operator stated when he realized he wouldn''t be able to keep the boat afloat, he went around the cove and drove straight to the shore. Operator stated once at the shore or in about 3 to 4 feet of water the boat continued to sink. Operator also mentioned when he fired up the big motor to drive to shore, the nose of the boat went very high in the air indicating the back of the boat was full of water more than he thought. I told Operator we would return to his boat later in the afternoon when the wind died down.
 
I returned to meet Operator at 1600 hours and we loaded onto my patrol boat and returned to his boat. On approach I could see the boat was resting on the bottom of the lake in about 3 feet of water with the back end submerged and the front higher. I explained to Operator I would not be attempting to tow the boat across the water with the condition it was in as I felt once we got to deeper water it would sink the boat. Operator asked what he needed to do and I told him to talk with his insurance company about recovering the boat because I didn''t have the equipment to do so. Operator proceeded to salvage everything he could from the boat and place it into mine. When we were finished I returned to shore and provided Operator with my phone number and the case number.
I have nothing more to report at this time.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0004
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-06-24 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 15:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Perry-18 miles NE of Topeka on
NearestCityorTown: Meriden
County: Jefferson
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Wednesday
RedactedNarrative:
On June 24, 2015 around 1500 hrs. Four people were boating on the Rock Creek arm of Perry Lake, between the north boat ramp at Perry State Park and Rock Creek Marina in Operator1''s fathers 29'' Rinker cabin cruiser boat. Operator1 was driving the boat, Victim and Subject1 were on a tube being pulled behind the boat and Subject2 was on the boat watching her friends on the tube. Operator1, Subject2 and Subject1 all said the tube hit a wave and Victim and Subject1 were thrown off the tube and into the water. Subject1 said she and Victim never hit or even touched each other as they were thrown into the water. Subject1 said when she popped up out of the water she could tell Victim was injured because of the look on her face. Subject1 swam over to Victim and Victim said her back hurt really bad. Victim was loaded into the boat and transported to the Rock Creek Marina where the boat is stored and where operator’s father was located. Once at the marina it was decided to call 911 and have EMS check Victim out. The 911 call was received at 1505 hrs. Victim was then transported by ambience to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. 

At 1612 hrs. I NRO was contacted by NRO and was asked if I could go to Stormont Vail Hospital and take the boat accident report, which I did. I arrived at the hospital at approx. 1620 hrs. I talked with Subject1 and Subject2 which were already at the hospital. I then briefly talked with Victim. At approx.. 1720 hrs. Operator1 and father arrived at the hospital and I was able to talk with them as well. I then left the hospital at 1750 hrs.

Victim suffered a fracture to her spine and spent two days in the hospital. Victim will be required to wear a back brace for approximately 2 months while her spine heals. The doctors believe the spine will heal on its own and no surgery will be needed.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0005
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 12:42:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Machinery failure
AccidentCause2: Navigation rules violation
MachineryFailure: Throttle
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On July 4, 2015 I went 10-8 at 1245 hours and was immediately dispatched to a PWC vs. PWC accident that had just occurred at El Dorado Reservoir. I arrived to the area of Shady Creek campgrounds area 5 at 1252 hours and observed a white male still setting on a PWC with KA numbers and was in obvious pain shouting any time the PWC was moved. I walked down to the shore and observed a second PWC unoccupied with KA numbers. I saw another male standing by shore holding his life jacket and approached him and asked if he was involved in the accident. He stated he was and identified himself. I asked Operator2 what had occurred while EMTs took care of Operator1. Operator2 stated they had both been riding PWCs and were friends and travelling in the same direction. Operator2 stated he was behind Operator1 when Operator1''s jet ski stalled and turned to the left. Operator2 stated he was too close and moving too quickly and wasn’t able to avoid Operator1. Operator2 stated he went into and then over the PWC. I asked Operator2 if he had let up on the throttle before striking Operator1 and Operator2 stated he had completely let up on the throttle and was trying to turn the PWC. I asked Operator2 if he had consumed any alcohol and he stated neither he nor Operator1 had been drinking. I then asked Operator2 to blow on a PBT for me and Operator2 complied and the result came back showing no alcohol. I collected Operator2''s contact number and released him from the scene.
 
At this time, Operator1 had been loaded into an ambulance and was being transported to Wesley in Wichita. I went to the 2 PWCs and started taking pictures of the vessels. I asked Operator2 who the owner of the PWCs was and he stated they belonged to another friend who was camping at the lake. At this time, the owner arrived and stated they were her PWCs. I continued to look at the PWCs and could see damage to the lower left hand side of the PWC driven by Operator1. You could also see a rip in the seat along with a scuff mark where the PWC went over the top. On the PWC driven by Operator2, you could see damage to the front nose and also some damage to the left front of the PWC. I cleared the scene at 1400 hours and released the PWCs. After leaving the scene, I called Operator2 and met him so he could provide me a written statement of what occurred. After Operator2 provided the statement, I told Operator2 that pending the outcome of the investigation, he may be cited with prohibited operation.
 
On July 6, 2015 I travelled to interview Operator1 and determine that extent of his injuries. Operator1 stated he had multiple fractures to his hip and left femur which required surgery. I then asked Operator1 to tell me what happened. Operator1 stated he had been travelling West with Operator2 when his PWC stalled and turned to the left. Operator1 then stated he was in front and Operator2 was behind him. Operator1 then stated he could see Operator2 right there with an "oh crap" look on his face and then he made contact with his PWC. I asked Operator1 if he would provide me a written statement and Operator1 started to fill one out. It became apparent he was having trouble writing out the statement and I asked Operator1 if he wanted me to write out the incident while he described it to me. Operator1 agreed and provided a statement which I then had him read and Operator1 stated they were his words and signed and dated the statement.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0007
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-07 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Tuttle Creek- 6 miles N of Man
NearestCityorTown: Olsburg
County: Pottawatomie
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Falls overboard
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Tuesday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator was operating the jet ski with subject on the back and victim in the middle. Operator was going over some waves and began to turn and Subject fell off the back of the jet ski. Victim then fell off after Subject had already entered the water. Operator went to pick both girls up and asked them if they were OK. They both stated they were fine. They finished riding the jet ski and the girls were then dropped off on the bank. As they were walking along the bank, Victim told Subject that her neck was hurting. First aid was administered and EMS was called out to transport Victim to Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan for neck pain. Victim was released from the hospital where they told her she had suffered minor whiplash which lead to a strained neck.

Operator was asked what may have made the girls fall off and he stated that it could have been when he was turning and going over a wave. Subject stated that they weren’t going too fast but that she just fell off. When asked about the operation of the jet ski, Victim stated that the driver wasn’t going too fast or that she felt she was in danger due to how the jet ski was being operated. She stated that when she fell off she believed she hit her head on the jet ski before entering the water but didn’t feel any pain until after they were already on shore and walking to their next activity.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0008
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-05 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 16:15:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Kanopolis-33 m. SW of Salina o
NearestCityorTown: Marquette
County: Ellsworth
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
PWC2 lost power and made a sharp right hand turn as he was passing a PWC operated by his brother. When PWC2 made the right turn it put him directly in the path of PWC1, which caused PWC1 to strike PWC2 and go up and over the top of him and his PWC.


BARDID: KS-2015-0009
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 14:31:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Tuttle Creek- 6 miles N of Man
NearestCityorTown: Manhattan
County: Pottawatomie
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
AccidentCause2: Machinery failure
AccidentCause3: Ignition of spilled fuel or vapor
MachineryFailure: Fuel
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator aware of a fuel leak.  Operator starts boat to maneuver to trailer, fuel ignited at moment operator attempts to start engine.  Operator then jumped from burning boat while not wearing a life jacket.


BARDID: KS-2015-0010
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-08-01 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 18:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Shawnee-3139 E 29th St.,
NearestCityorTown: Topeka
County: Shawnee
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator was operating his boat (1974 16'' Cobalt) on Lake Shawnee pulling his daughter on skies behind the boat when the accident occurred. The accident took place south of the park maintenance building or just north of the rowing club building. There were three other passengers sitting to the front of the boat. 

Victim was crossing back over the boats wake when her outside ski caught in the wake throwing Victim face first into the water. When operator pulled up to Victim, Victim was complaining of an injured neck and back. Victim was loaded into the boat and taken back to shore where they called 911 and requested an ambulance.

Victim was transported by ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital where she was checked out and released. Victim suffered a slight concussion and will have a sore neck and back for a week or so but is expected to make a full recovery.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0014
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 19:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Perry-18 miles NE of Topeka on
NearestCityorTown: Perry
County: Jefferson
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Fall in vessel
AccidentCause1: Excessive speed
AccidentCause2: Force of wake/wave
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On 7/8/15, I, Natural Resource Officer (NRO), was contacted by the owner/operator of vessel 1 regarding an injury boating incident on Perry Lake that reportedly occurred on 7/4/15. Based on the information provided by owner/operator, the following occurred: 

Vessel 1 was traveling in a northerly direction and vessel 2 was traveling in a southwesterly direction, in a crossing situation, on the Slough Creek arm of Perry Lake. Vessel 2 was traveling at a high rate of speed, approximately 60-70 mph, and crossed in front of vessel 1 at a distance of approximately ten to twelve boat lengths. Vessel 1 reduced it’s speed to approximately 10-15 mph, then put it in reverse, after observing a large wake.

Vessel 1 impacted with the wake of vessel 2 and victim 1, who had been seated in the forward section of vessel 1, was catapulted up, then landed hard on the forward deck, causing a hairline fracture in her lower vertebrae. 

Vessel 1 then returned to it''s slip on B dock at the Perry Yacht and Marina Club to report the incident.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0017
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-26 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 20:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cheney-20 miles W of Wichita
NearestCityorTown: Cheney
County: Kingman
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person struck by vessel
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Alcohol
AccidentCause2: Improper lookout
AccidentCause3: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On 7/26/15 around 20:25 a 21ft. IO was doing tight circles to throw large wake for two pwc to jump waves.  The last circle IO shut down causing back of boat to lower in water, where one of the pwc was operating too close and fast and launched up onto the back of boat.  Where the force carried the pwc from back of boat to front and exited bow the of boat.  Pwc struck the female passenger and the female sitting in bow seats before exiting IO.   The two injuried females where transported in IO to West boat ramp and transported to Wichita hospital with head injuries.  The operator of IO was tested for possible BUI and was arrested and transported to jail in Kingman Kansas.  The operator of pwc was floated to shore on tube and treated by EMS for large bump on head and sore leg but refused transport to hospital.  Later was taken to local hospital by private vehicle and released that night.  Both vessels where placed in locked park compound to be investigated at a later time and date. This is all I have to report at this time Boating Specialist


BARDID: KS-2015-0018
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-12 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:05:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Cedar Bluff – 13 miles S on K-
NearestCityorTown: Ogallah
County: Trego
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Improper lookout
AccidentCause2: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
On July 12, 2015, Park Ranger was patrolling in the Bluffton Area at Cedar Bluff State Park. At approximately 5:00 PM he was checking vehicle permit compliance at the beach parking lot. Park Ranger observed two Personal Water Craft traveling in toward the beach at a medium rate of speed one leading with the other following close behind and to the right. The lead PWC (# 1 ) made a hard right turn and the second PWC (# 2 ) collided into the right side of lead PWC ejecting operator and passenger. #2 PWC operator remained in control, turned around and retrieved passenger of #1 PWC from water and towed operator of #1 PWC to #1 PWC. Operator #2 PWC then came into shore with his passenger and the passenger from #1 PWC. Upon arrival I saw that passenger #1 was a small child with a cut below his chin. The mother pulled the child from PWC, removed child's PFD, and saw a chin wound and noticed bruising on the right hip. She told me to call 911 for an ambulance. At approx. 5:05 PM I notified Trego County Sheriff Office and requested an ambulance. The mother laid her hurt child in the front seat of vehicle and I gave gauze and ice pack to mother to put on the child's chin while they waited for ambulance. The operator of #1 PWC climbed onto his PWC and returned to shore. 
 
Upon returning to shore I noticed he did not have a PFD on and asked him where it was. He stated that it was torn off during the collision and he couldn't find it in the water. I asked if he was hurt. He said he just hurt his right leg but was ok. I then asked operator of #2 PWC if he or his passenger were hurt. He stated that he was ok and that his passenger had bumped her head. The passenger with him was his child. He then stated that he didn't see the #1 PWC turn until it was too late, he tried to turn right to avoid, but still collided. The ambulance arrived at approx. 5:30PM. EMT's checked all involved and then transported passenger of #1 PWC to hospital for further examination. I notified Game Warden of accident and collected necessary information. 

On 07/13/2015, Game Warden called Operator2 via telephone to ask a few questions about the accident. Operator2 said that he had been following behind and to the right of vessel #1, and that Operator2 had been travelling about 25-30 miles per hour and had looked down and the next thing he knew he had collided with vessel #1. GW then asked Operator2, how far he had been travelling from vessel #1, and he indicated he was not far, maybe 50-100 feet. GW \ then contacted Operator1 via telephone to ask a few questions. GW asked Operator1 how fast he was going Operator1 said his panel was burned out but he estimated maybe 10 miles per hour, because he was making a right hand turn. GW then asked what color the life jacket was. Operator1 said blue. GW then asked how the jacket could have come off, Operator1 said that he only had one buckle fastened and that the jacket was too small, but he had been drug a short distance, so the jacket could have come off then.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0019
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-23 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:56:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Lake Quivira
NearestCityorTown: Lake Quivira
County: Johnson
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Operator inattention
DayofWeek: Thursday
RedactedNarrative:
On July 23, 2015 at 14:30 hours at Lake Quivira, located within Lake Quivira, Kansas, vessel 1 was towing a tube with two occupants on it.  The operator of vessel 1 stopped in the middle of the main body of the lake.  When the two occupants on the tube signaled that they were ready to be pulled, operator of vessel 1 increased the throttle of the vessel to take off.  The back of the tube was facing the stern of vessel.  As the slack in the tow line became taut, it came out of the water and over the tube and across the knee of victim 1 and caused a deep laceration.  At that same time the metal cable tow harness of vessel 1 snapped.  Operater 1 took victim 1 and occupant 1 to the beach for medical aid.  Operator 1 called Emergency Medical Services to respond.  Emergency Medical Services transported victim 1 by ambulance to the Shawnee Mission Hospital in Shawnee, Kansas.  When vessel 1 was inspected by law enforcement, a mirror was located on the control panel of it.


BARDID: KS-2015-0020
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-06-05 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 09:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Arkansas River-South of Nicker
NearestCityorTown: Nickerson
County: Reno
WaterConditions: Choppy
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with fixed object
AccidentEvent2: Capsizing
AccidentEvent3: Person ejected from vessel
AccidentCause1: Hazardous waters
DayofWeek: Friday
RedactedNarrative:
On June 5, 2015 four people traveled down the Arkansas river in a Canoe. The current was much swifter than expected and the canoe got caught up in a tree and capsized. All four occupants were ejected. Subject worked for an estimated 30 minutes to get his two children out of the water. Victim was still in the water holding onto a a tree limb. Subject told Victim to climb higher up the limb so he could reach him with an oar to pull him out. Subject estimated it took his father 20 minutes to climb the limb because he had to stop several times to catch his breath. Once Subject pulled Victim to shore he left to find help. Subject found a house but no one was home. Subject returned to his father who was having trouble breathing. Subject went to look for help again and found someone to call 911. When EMS arrived they said that Victim''s breathing was slow so they began CPR until he was transported by helicopter to the hospital. Victim passed away.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0021
State: KS
AVesselLoss: -1
Date: 2015-08-02 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:30:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Marion-4 miles NW of Marion of
NearestCityorTown: Hillsboro
County: Marion
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Flooding/swamping
AccidentCause1: Hull failure
DayofWeek: Sunday
RedactedNarrative:
Information gather that boat was underway and cruising across Marion when boat took on water and sank.  The four individuals and dog was left floating in Lake with PFD''s and a large floating mat.  Individuals were picked up and brought to boat ramp and was checked by EMT and nobody was transported. This is all I have to report at this time.  Boating Specalist


BARDID: KS-2015-0022
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-05-30 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 21:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Clinton-5 miles S of Lawrence
NearestCityorTown: Lawrence
County: Douglas
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Fair
AccidentEvent1: Fire/explosion (fuel)
AccidentCause1: Navigation rules violation
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Operator of the vessel was going to take his son for a boat ride on Clinton Lake. The motor of the vessel stopped running. Operator had removed the flame arrestor to attempt to get the boat started. At this time approximately 10mins had past. The motor cover was shut and while attempting to start the motor it back fired causing surrounding gas fumes to ignite. Both parties abandoned the boat. Operator was able to get the cover closed and reboard the vessel. He used his fire extinguisher to put the fire out. The Fire was put out and vessel was towed to shore. Neither party was injured. 

A safety inspection revealed Operator did not have a Type IV Throwable PFD, The vessel was not registered and he had removed the flame arrestor prior to the fire/explosion.

After initial report was filed officer was made aware that the report did not contain all the facts of the incident. Officer was advised that Operator was involved in a child custody dispute with his child’s mother. Officer was advised that Operator had his son pour gasoline directly into the carburetor of the engine. The result of this action caused the engine to backfire. Since the flame arrestor had been removed the back fire resulted in fire. Son also sustained very minor burns but was evaluated by ems away from the scene and no further treatment was done.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0023
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-25 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 13:00:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: Wilson-8 miles N on K-232 from
NearestCityorTown: Wilson
County: Russell
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Moderate
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentCause1: Operator inexperience
AccidentCause2: Sharp turn
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
Interviewed operator1 at the Wilson State Park Office. Operator1 stated that he was riding just ahead of Operator2 on the Jet Skis. Operator1 drove ahead and was going to turn to the right, when the jet ski that Operator2 was driving hit Operator1''s jet ski on the right side. After the collision they both drug the skis to the bank and loaded both onto the trailer and came to the Park Office.
 


BARDID: KS-2015-0025
State: KS
AVesselLoss: 0
Date: 2015-07-04 00:00:00
Time: 1899-12-30 17:25:00
NameOfBodyOfWater: El Dorado-3 miles E, 2 miles N
NearestCityorTown: El Dorado
County: Butler
WaterConditions: Calm
Wind: Light
Visibility: Good
AccidentEvent1: Collision with recreational vessel
AccidentEvent2: Skier mishap
AccidentCause1: Improper lookout
DayofWeek: Saturday
RedactedNarrative:
On July 4, 2015 at 1725 hours I was on water patrol and dispatched to a boating accident in the area of Bluestem 7 of El Dorado Reservoir. I arrived in the area to find people motioning me to a vessel with an injured tuber on board. We accompanied the boat to Shady Creek Marina where EMS was waiting. I inquired Operator1 where the other boat was and he stated they just left to a cove by where it happened. I was informed it was a black bass boat. I was also informed the driver from the other vessel threw his hands in the air like he was upset with them and Operator1 stated he also put his hands up. I left the vessel operated by Operator1 under the care of the EMS and park rangers while I left to track down the other boat.
 
At approximately 1745 hours, I made it to the cove where it was indicated the other driver went. When I pulled into the cove I viewed three black bass boats beside each other on shore. For about the next 30 minutes, I tracked down the boat owners and conducted interviews about what they were doing at the time of the accident. I hadn’t tracked down the third boat owner yet when I was approached by Operator2. Operator2 stated he wanted to tell his side of the story so I just listened. Operator2 stated he was returning to his campsite when there was another boat driving straight towards him. Operator2 stated both boats started to turn right and then turned left and he viewed a tube get close enough to his boat that "it scared him". During the interview I noticed Operator2 had been drinking and I asked Operator2 if had been drinking since arriving to shore and Operator2 stated he had drank a few since arriving at shore but hadn’t had any while on the water. I decided to not do sobriety tests since I had no evidence he was drinking while operating and had stated he had since returning to shore. I asked Operator2 what happened next and Operator2 stated he stopped and turned to the boat and threw his hands in the air and was like "what the hell" and then returned to his campsite. After having talked to Operator1 earlier, I knew he stated both boat operators threw their hands in the air. I asked Operator2 if it was possible the tube was thrown into the side of the boat and he stated it was 20 to 40 yards away but enough to scare him. 
 
I asked Operator2 who else was on the boat with him aboard. I asked if they were still in the area and he stated they were so I spoke to them one at a time. I spoke with Occupant1 and she stated the same sequence of events as Operator2 did. When I asked Occupant1 how close the tube came to the boat Occupant1 stated "inches". I collected her contact information and stated I would call her if I needed anything else. I then spoke with Occupant2 and she again described a similar sequence of events. I asked Occupant2 how close the tube got and she stated about 20 yards. I spoke with Operator2 again next and told him I was sure it was his vessel that was involved in the accident. Operator2 stated he was sure no contact was made. I asked Operator2 what happened after he threw his arms in the air and he stated he saw the other boat starting to pull away so he didn’t think any contact was made and he didn’t look back again. In the meantime, I had officer examining the side of Operator2''s boat to see if there were any scuff marks and none were found. I then had Operator2 fill out a written statement describing what happened. I cleared the area at 1915 hours.
 
I next made contact with Park Ranger who was with the other boat to find he didn’t do any sobriety tests on the operator and had only collected statements from three people from the boat. I knew from being beside the boat earlier, there were 8 people on board. . I collected the statements and found they all stated what I knew which was people got hurt by hitting another boat. None of the statements said direction of travel of anything like that. On July 5, 2015 while on water patrol at El Dorado, I viewed the boat with Operator1 d


