On June 5, 2010, at approximately 3:37pm, I, Conservation Police Officers were called to the Opossum Creek boat ramp by Shelby County regarding an individual injured by a boat prop.  When we arrived at the ramp, Shelby County ambulance was on scene and had victim in the ambulance.  I spoke with the operator of the boat.  He was pulling victim on a tube.  victim was finished tubing but operator was not sure if he was going to tube some more or board the boat.  victim told him he was finished.  operator told victim to hang onto the rope so he could straightened it out because the wind was pushing the boat over the rope.  operator thought victim was hanging onto the rope but he was hanging onto the ski deck.  When operator started the motor, victim was pulled toward the prop, his shorts got caught in the prop and his thigh, shin and calf were seriously cut.  victim yelled to operator "Shut it down! Shut in down! Shut it down!"  operator shut the motor off, ran back to victim and pulled him into the boat.  operator wrapped towels around the wounds, applied pressure and elevated the leg.  

Two of the friends were also boating at the time so operator waved them over and told them what happened.  operator was not familiar with the lake so his friends lead the way back to Opossum Creek boat ramp.  At first, operator said they were going to take victim to the hospital themselves, then decided to call an ambulance because the boat would only travel 10-15miles per hour due to prop damage.  victim called for an ambulance while in route to the boat ramp.  Once they arrived at the no wake area of the boat ramp,  helped operator dock the boat.  I asked operator what time they launched.  He stated around 2:30pm.  They went straight to cove three and victim was first to tube.

I spoke with victim while he was in the ambulance.  He stated he was hanging onto the right rear of the ski deck when operator turned on the motor to straighten out the boat and rope.  He stated a wave pushed the boat over him and he got cut by the prop.  I spoke with the ambulance personnel to assess how bad the injuries were.  One of the EMT's stated the thigh laceration was not too bad but the laceration on the shin was pretty serious.

Once the ambulance left, I had operator trailer the boat so I could look at the prop.  victim's swim trunks were wrapped in the prop.  operator then realized why his boat would only run 10-15 miles per hour.

CPO issued the following citation to operator:

625 ILCS 45/5-14a  tubing without an observer in watercraft

operator was given a notice to appear and given a court date of 06/30/10 at 9:00am at the Shelby county courthouse.  Officer explained the citation and asked operator if he had any questions.  operator he asked if he could pay with a personal check.  Officer  again explained how he could pay the fine.  

I called the hospital at approximately 5:30pm inquiring if the victim would be transferred.  The emergency room nurse stated he would be transferred to Springfield Memorial Hospital.  END OF REPORT.
Findlay                       