On 5-30-2010, at approximately 8:04 pm, CPOs, were on boat patrol at Kinkaid Lake.  We were notified that a boat was sinking just west of the Kinkaid Lake Marina with possible people in the water.  We proceeded to the area.  

Upon our arrival at the Marina, I saw that a watercraft was tied to the IDNR dock with only the bow of the watercraft sticking out of the water.  We docked our boat and went to investigate.  We met with the operator of the watercraft that had sunk.  He stated that no one had been injured and no one had been in the water.  The watercraft, a 1974 Challenger, had sunk when they had just made it to the dock.  

I asked the operator what happened.  operator stated that they had been out tubing and skiing all afternoon.  They had come in to put the tube away and were headed back out to the spillway area to do some fishing.  They were approximately 1/2 mile southwest of the marina when he felt a thump on the hull of the watercraft.  Within seconds, he started noticing water coming into the watercraft.  operator said that he immdeiately turned the watercraft around and headed back to the marina.  He had everyone put on their personal flotation devices due to the large amount of water coming in the watercraft.  operator stated that they had just made it back to the marina dock and tied the watercraft up when it sank with only the upper third of the bow sticking out of the water.  ( see photos)  

I explained to operator that with it being a holiday weekend that the local marina probably would not be able to get his watercraft out of the water until Tuesday or Wednesday.  I took down all of operator's information and had him fill out a statement.  I also gave to him and explained the boating accident form that he needed to fill out and send into the IDNR. 

On 6-2-10, the Kinkaid Marina personnel were able to raise operator's watercraft out of the water.  CPO  was able to go and look at the watercraft when it was out of the water and take pictures.  During CPO  investigation of the watercraft, he found an approximately 10 inch gash on the bottom of the hull underneath the driver's side console.  It also appeared that the area had been patched once before ( see photos).  CPO  did note that the plug was still in the watercraft and that the bilge was still in the on position.   

On 6-7-10, I spoke with operator.  He stated that the insurance company had totaled the watercraft ( approximate value of $800.00 on the watercraft and $1500.00 for the motor) and that he was sending it to the junkyard.  

This report closes this case.
Murphysboro, IL               