On Saturday, July 11, 2009, Operator filled the personal watercraft (PWC) with fuel in Blue Grass, Iowa.  After filling the PWC, Operator travelled to the Shady Creek Recreation Area in Muscatine County where he unloaded the PWC into the Mississippi River.  Operator then parked his vehicle in the parking lot and returned to the PWC at the Shady Creek boat ramp.  Operator boarded the PWC along with his daughter, Passenger 1.  After boarding the PWC, Operator started the engine of the PWC while Passenger 1 was seated behind him on the vessel.  After starting the engine, Operator began to accelerate the throttle of the PWC when it exploded, throwing both Operator and Passenger 1 into the water.  Operator suffered minor injuries including bruising to his right thumb and his left leg above his knee near the hip.  Operator refused treatment at the scene from medical personnel from Buffalo Ambulance Service. Passenger 1 suffered bruising on her right leg above the knee.  Passenger 1 was transported in Operator’s personal vehicle to Urgent Care in Muscatine where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

During a subsequent interview on August 14, 2009, Operator advised Iowa Conservation Officer that he had filled the PWC with gasoline at the General Store in Blue Grass.  After filling the PWC with fuel, Operator travelled to the Shady Creek Recreation Area where he launched the PWC.  Operator advised Conservation Officer that approximately 15 minutes elapsed from the time he filled the PWC with fuel until the time it exploded.  Operator also stated that he did not raise the hood or the seat of the PWC to allow the gasoline fumes to vent after filling it with fuel.  Investigation by Officer  revealed that the fire and explosion originated from the gasoline compartment of the PWC.  It is believed that the gasoline fumes collected in the fuel compartment of the PWC and were not vented properly after Operator filled the vessel with fuel.  After starting the engine, as Operator was accelerating the PWC, the gasoline fumes ignited and exploded, throwing both Operator and Passenger 1 from the vessel into the water.  Extensive property damage occurred to the PWC resulting in a total loss.

During the interview on August 14, 2009 Operator advised Conservation Officer that he had purchased the PWC in 2008 from Seller from Blue Grass, Iowa. Operator subsequently failed to transfer the registration into his name as legally required.  As of this time, Operator has also failed to complete and submit a boat operator’s accident report.  When Operator spoke with Conservation Officer during the interview on August 14, 2009, he advised that he would submit the report the following week. Operator has subsequently failed to complete or submit the report as required.
Muscatine                     