On October 20th 2013 at 10:20 I, Officer, received a call advising of an unoccupied bass boat on Watauga Lake in Carter County. At 11:04, I arrived at Fish Spring Marina.   I spoke with two witnesses and then traveled to the area of the unoccupied vessel.  At Approximately 11:15, I arrived at the vessel.   The vessel was TN 7748 BE a 15''08'''' Javelin bass boat.  The vessel was found on a small island upstream from Fish Springs Marina.  Upon inspection of the Vessel, the hull had significant damage on the port bow area.  The point of impact was located on the downstream point of the island.  Victim''s wife was contacted and she stated Victim had not returned home from fishing.  The Carter County Rescue Squad was then contacted to perform a search for Victim.   Victim was recovered by the Carter County Rescue Squad at 17:12 by the use of an underwater remotely operated vehicle.  Victim''s body was found in close proximity of the accident location.  Victim''s wife was notified of Victim''s death by Captain at the time of recovery. 

Sometime between the evening of 10/19/2013 and the morning of 10/20/2013, victim was operating a 15''8'''' ft Javelin vessel (TN7748 BE) on Watauga Lake in Carter County TN.  Victim was operating downstream from the Butler Bridge Hwy 67 toward Fish Springs Marina. Victim had levels of both drugs and alcohol in his system that would impair his vessel operation. Victim was operating at an undetermined speed, when his vessel impacted a small island located between the Butler Bridge and Fish Springs Marina. .  Victim impacted the point of a small island between fish springs marina and cove ridge marina.  The island is completely submerged at full pool. Full pool is approximately 1958 in elevation.  Watauga Lake was at approximately 1947 elevation on the date of the accident.  The island is not fully submerged at this elevation level.  The speed had to be significant enough to cause the vessel to go through a rolling event caused by the impact.  The impact with the island caused the vessel roll to the starboard side.  During this impact and rolling of the vessel, Victim was ejected into the water.  The vessel came to rest on the downstream side of the small island.  Victim was not wearing a PFD and the ejection resulted in the drowning death of Victim.

Damage Assessment
TN 7748 BE
Impact damage to the port bow portion of the hull
Gel Coat and fiberglass damage from port bow portion of hull extending to the starboard stern portion of the hull
Chip in fiberglass at starboard stern corner
Bent steering wheel
HAMPTON