BASED ON INFORMATION TO DATE:   On  August 8th 2009 at around 12:10 Operator 1 and a friend had blasted off at a fishing tournament at Warriors Path Park on Patrick Henry Lake in Sullivan County. Operator 1 said that he had turned his docking lights on to see if anything was floating in his way before getting on plane. He did not see anything and proceeded to get on plane when he saw a 30 foot log in front of him but could not turn to avoid it. He struck the log with his engine which was knocked completely of its mount and sank into the lake. He said that the boat was taking on a little water from the stern and that another fisherman behind him came and towed them into the dock. He said that no one was injured in the incident. The majority of the damage was limited to the stern area where the engine was mounted. He has not recovered the engine nor believes that it is possible. There is also a chunk missing on the side of the boat where the engine flipped forward and struck the boat before entering the water. His passenger  gave the same account of the incident.
KINGSPORT                     