On 05-26-12 at approximately 7 pm I overheard traffic from Clinton County Sheriffs Department regarding a possible boat accident that had had taken place on the 25th at Carlyle Lake near Boulder.  Upon calling Clinton County I was referred to COE Ranger who was on scene at the time of the accident.  After speaking with Ranger I report the following: 

On 05-25-12 at 6:45 pm Operator was operating his small 14'' jon boat with 2 passengers on board.  While following another watercraft approximately 200 yards from the Boulder Boat Ramp Operator attempted to cross over the wake of a larger boat on the starboard side.  As he attempted to complete this maneuver the weight shift from crossing the wake made his watercraft unstable and consequently causing it to dip toward the starboard side.  This action caused Operator''s watercraft to take on water and his 2 passengers were ejected into the lake.  Operator then tried to turn the watercraft away from the ejected passengers.  As Operator made the abrupt turn the propeller from the jon boat motor grazed victim’s right foot causing her to sustain minor lacerations on her foot and ankle area.  At this time another boat picked up Victim and took her to the Boulder Boat Ramp for medical attention.  Operator and Occupant2 then put on life jackets and a short time later was picked up by another watercraft.  Victim told Ranger that she later went to St. Mary''s Hospital in Centralia where she received approximately 12 stitches for her right foot wounds.  Operator later advised Ranger that they had consumed a few alcoholic beverages earlier in the day.  Ranger advised me that he felt Operator had not been impaired at the time of the accident.

On 06-01-12 I met with Operator and advised him that he was responsible for the safety of the passengers of his watercraft.  I also told him that on the date of the accident the burden of one of his passenger being injured rested upon his shoulders.  Therefore I advised him that he was being cited for Careless Operation of a Watercraft.  I also advised him that he was being issued a written warning for failure to transfer his registration on the jon boat from Missouri to Illinois.  At this time I gave Operator a copy of the mandatory boat accident form to complete and send in to the IDNR.  I then explained the citation and written warning to Operator and asked him if he had any questions.  Operator was then released on a Notice to Appear and given his mandatory court date.

End of report.

Boulder                       