I was advised of a personal injury boat accident on 9-12-2012 @ 1:00PM.  I called operator and interviewed him by phone.  Operator stated he owned a boat and was out boating on 9-11-12 in the Mississippi River (Pool # 15).  Operator stated a passenger''s foot was cut when re-entering the boat after tubing.  

Operator stated he had three additional people with him.  Operator stated his daughter, Daughter and Victim were being towed in a tube.  Passenger was the observer.  When they were done tubing, both girls swam to the stern of the boat to reboard the boat.  Victim attempted to enter the boat first, via a ladder on the port stern side of the boat.  Operator stated he had the boat in neutral and went to the stern of the boat to assist with getting Daughter, Victim and the tube back on the boat.  At that point Victim started to climb back into the boat.  Victim fell back down in the water and stated her right foot was hurting.  Victim lifted her right foot out of the water to view it.  It was observed at that point that her foot had a serious cut on it.

Operator stated they got both girls back onboard the boat and called 911.  Operator operated his boat back to the 55th St. boat launch in Moline IL.  The ambulance arrived as they reached the dock.  Victim was transported to Illini Hospital where she was admitted.  

On 9-15-2012, I met with all parties involved at Operator''s house.  Victim was using a walker to get around and her foot was bandaged.  Victim stated she spent 3 days in the hospital because Dr. was concerned about an infection setting in.  Victim stated her right ankle was dislocated and her right foot was fractured, had broken bones and a cut tendon".  The tendon cut occurred on the center bottom of her foot.  The fractures were in bones toward the heel of her foot.  The broken bone(s) were near her middle toe.  Estimated time of recovery was 6-8 weeks and she did not have an infection at that time.  I told them I was surprised by how much damage was done to her foot from just "stepping" on the prop while getting back in the boat.  Victim stated that she was also and so was the staff at the hospital.  I asked Operator if it was possible he had the boat in gear when Victim was attempting to reboard the boat.  Operator stated he was sure it was in neutral.  Operator stated he thought it would have nearly severed her foot or had a much more severe laceration if it was in gear.  I took a written statement from Operator.  

I did a full inspection of Operator''s boat, located at his house.  The throttle handle appeared to operate as it should.  There was a very distinctive "click" when the throttle was placed in the neutral position.  Once placed in the neutral position, the throttle handle was locked in that position.  A button under the handle had to be pushed to release the throttle from that position.  All required safety equipment was onboard the boat.  The boat appeared clean and orderly.  The propeller on the boat was very sharp.  Operator stated he used a grinder to "smooth out some nicks and burrs" on the prop.  It was clear a bad cut could have been caused by just stepping on the prop to gain leverage when re-entering the boat.  I was still unclear how the break, fracture and dislocation occurred in the foot.

It''s undetermined if the boat was in gear and the propeller was spinning or if the boat was in neutral and the propeller was stopped at the time of the accident.  No charges were filed in this case.

Moline IL                     