On Saturday, August 6, 2011, I, Officer, was on boating safety patrol on the Colorado River.  At approximately 17:00, I was contacted by Reno Dispatch concerning a vessel accident without injury in the area of Big Bend State Park.     
     From the witness''s verbal and written statements and evidence collected at the scene, I determined that the operator of vessel one was operating south along the Arizona shoreline when he decided to return to his camp at the North end of Big Bend State Park.
     At the same time, Operator2 was operating south along the Nevada shoreline towing a floating tube with two people in the tube and was attempting to return to the launch ramp at Big Bend State Park.
Operator2''s vessel had turned from heading south and taken on a western orientation in order to maneuver around a jetty of land and enter the cove at the launch ramp area.
By this time, Operator1 was completing his turn to head back up stream.  This action placed him in a collision course with Operator2''s vessel.  At this time, Operator1 stated he “suddenly” saw a vessel that was being operated at a slow to flat wake speed.  Operator1 stated that he “let go of the gas and tried to turn [away from the vessel] as fast as he could”.  This action of letting go of the gas prevented the vessel from turning.  As operators of this type of craft know, the vessel will not turn at any speed without throttle to push the vessel in its intended course.
Operator2 also states that he noticed the PWC “all of a sudden”.  Operator2 was restricted in movement both because he was operating at a slow speed while towing passenger behind his vessel and he was operating far to the right of navigable waters for his vessel. 
     Based on the witness statements, the evidence collected at the scene and the congested water with limited channels to operate, I found the operator of vessel one, Operator1, at fault for inattention to operation and issued him a citation for failing to provide a proper look out (NRS 488.540, rule #5).

Laughlin                      