V1 was returning from fishing, they were motoring toward Coon Creek Resort's dock.  V2 was  sitting stationary somewhere around 300 feet north of Coon Creek Resort's dock getting ready to begin fishing. Operator of V1 stated they were going around 20 mph when they struck V2.  Both occupants in V1 stated they didn't see any lights on V2.  Operator of V2 stated he heard a boat coming but didn't think much about it and returned to fishing when they were struck towards the starboard side middle of his boat, throwing passenger/victim of V2 towards the bow and knocking him unconscious.  V1 came to rest on top of V2.  Both V1 occupants helped V2 occupants into their boat, as they were doing so V2 rolled over and sank.  They docked at the resort and V2 operator took the victim by POV to the Hospital. 

On June 20, AGFC Dive Team located V2 with sonar and retrieved the vessel in approx. 70 feet of water.  The stern light mount was broken but was still attached by the wires.  The stern light was mounted on the port side of the stern and was rather short (18" tall). The bow light was mounted on the bow solid.  The navigation light switch was located behind the bow light and when V2 was raised the switch was found in the "off" position.  When divers located V2 there was no battery and they could not locate a battery on a perimeter search prior to raising V2.  The wires where the battery would be attached were straight with the insulation stripped back about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. 

V1 operator BAC was .000 
V2 operator BAC was .032 


All of V2's lights have been sent to the Crime Lab to see if they can determine if they were on at the time of the accident.   

Report won't be finalized until we receive the results, which could take several weeks or even months. 

UPDATE: 01-06-14 - AS OF THIS DATE, THE CRIME LAB RESULTS ON THE LIGHTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.  IT IS OUR BELIEF, EVEN GIVEN THE INCONCLUSIVE RESULTS; THAT V2'S NAVIGATION LIGHTS (OR LACK THEREOF) WERE IN FACT STILL A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. OTHER EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION AND QUITE POSSIBLY NEVER COULD BE ON DUE TO THE LACK OF BATTERY AND THE FACT THE WIRES WERE ALL INTACT AND NO EVIDENCE OF STRIPPING WAS EVIDENT.
 
REPORT CLOSED 01-06-14.
PEEL