On June 26, 2012 I, Rfc, was dispatched to a boating incident on Lake Sinclair in the Rooty Creek area.  I made contact with Cpl. at Little River park where all parties were located.  He advised me that five of the occupants of the vessels involved were being transported to Macon Medical Center and two other occupants were unharmed and he was taking statements from them.  Sgt. arrived on scene a short time later and got on Lake Sinclair to retrieve one of the vessels that was still at the incident location.

Once information was obtained about the occupants that were being transported to Macon Medical Center I spoke with the two occupants that were left behind.  One occupant stated that they had been fishing and they just took off from an area in Rooty Creek.  He went on to say that the vessel they were in, Triton bass boat, had just planned off when they saw the boat and it was too late.  Once they struck vessel #1, pontoon boat, they put all occupants from vessel #1 into vessel # 2 and called 911 and transported them to Little River park to meet the ambulance.  One occupant stated that he did not see any lights running on Vessel #1 which was anchored at the time of impact.  Occupant2 stated that he was facing to the rear of Vessel #2 and said that when the Vessel #2 planned out they struck Vessel #1.  Occupant2 also stated that they got everyone on board of Vessel #2 and took them to Little River park. Written statements were taken from both of them.  After statements were taken occupant1 and Occupant2 assisted me in loading Vessel #2 onto its trailer so that it could be transported to the Region IV office for processing.  

After Vessel #2 was loaded Sgt. returned to Little River park with Vessel #1.  I then took pictures of the vessel and the damages and we then were able to find the trailer for Vessel #1 and pull it out of the water.  While Sgt. finished attaching Vessel #1 to his truck I left the scene and took Vessel #2 to the region office.  Sgt. transported Vessel #1 to the region office as well.  Once myself and Sgt. arrived at the region office both Vessel #1 and Vessel #2 were left and locked behind a secure gate.  I then left Sgt. at the region office and went to Macon Medical Center to speak with the remaining occupants.  

Once at Macon Medical Center I attempted to make contact with the occupants in the emergency room.  The emergency room staff advised me that occupant3 would not be available for a statement because  they were conducting emergency surgery on him.  I then went and talked to Operator1.  Operator1, the owner of Vessel #1, stated that he and the occupants of Vessel #1 were anchored in the Rooty Creek area doing some night fishing.  He went on to say that his brother was sitting in the back with him and the two juveniles were sitting in the front of the boat.  As they were sitting there Operator stated that he heard Vessel #2 take off and he then saw the vessel.  Operator went on to say that he noticed Vessel #2 get closer and closer to them and finally he stated that he yelled for everyone to hit the deck.  Operator stated that he does not remember if he was even able to get on the floor of Vessel #1 in time but he does remember falling into the water.  Operator went on to say that once in the water he started yelling for his brother and the juveniles to make sure that they were ok.  Operator advised me that he and his brother were ejected from Vessel #1 but the two juvenile were still sitting in the vessel after the incident.  Operator stated that Vessel #2 was able to get all occupants of Vessel #1 into the boat and transport them to Little River.  Operator stated that both his front and rear lights were burning at the time of the incident.  I then asked Operator where his stern light was located on Vessel #1 and he stated that it was attached to the canopy of the pontoon.  Operator's statement

EATONTON                      