On July 10, 2011 at 1415 hrs, a non-injury boat accident occurred on Fresno Reservoir involving 2 vessels. I, Warden began my investigation at 1500 hrs. During the accident the weather was clear with good visibility, light winds, and the air temperature was approx. 90 degrees. The water was calm. The boating dock/ramp (No Wake Zone) area was very congested with boats. The operator of vessel #1 had very little experience with operating the boat. Vessel # 2 had no occupants inside the boat at the time of the accident.

Vessel #1 was coming into the boat ramp/dock area to drop off a passenger to retrieve the pickup and trailer. Vessel number 2 had just unloaded their boat into the water and the operator was parking the pickup and trailer. Vessel #2 was tied to the boat dock and the three other occupants of vessel #2 were standing on the dock beside the boat. Vessel #1 had approached the very end of the boat dock and had dropped off the occupant. Vessel #1 operator backed away from the end of the boat dock, then began to pull forward and turn to the south of the boat ramp. At this time, the portside of the bow of vessel #1 collided with the propeller of vessel #2. From my investigation, I did not see any other damage to vessel #2 other than the propeller area. The witnesses did not believe that vessel #1 hit any other part of vessel #2. There was a white smudge mark on the side of vessel #1 that may have been paint from vessel #2''s stern area. However, I did not see any evidence or damage to vessel #2''s stern area. After vessel # 1 collided with vessel # 2, it continued going south and collided into the rocks under/above the water surface along the shoreline. This is what caused the most damage to Vessel #1. The rocks scraped along the portside of the hull. Vessel # 1''s propeller area was also damaged from hitting the rocks.

Following my investigation, I concluded that vessel # 1 was at fault for the accident. The investigation showed that the causes for the accident was mainly due to an inexperienced boat operator in vessel #1 and the congested waters around the boat ramp. Vessel # 1''s boat operator was issued a written warning for 23-2-523(4): Fail to operate safe or reasonably. Vessel # 1''s owner did not have the proper decal or identification numbers on the side of the boat and he also received a written warning for both of these offenses.

Havre                         