On 9/3/12 approximately 1400 hours I met with Operator at the Aurora Landing near the mouth of Hogan Creek and the Ohio River. I asked for Operator's drivers license and copied the information, then Operator and myself walked onto the gas dock of Aurora Landing. Operator took me to the place where he thought the impact occurred. I stated this happened on 8/29/12? Operator then advised the accident actually happened on 8/27/12, that his mother owns the boat and when he saw how much damage was done to the boat, he was afraid to tell her. That was why he waited two days to report it. Operator then tried to find where the impact happened and we were unable to find anywhere on the dock that appeared to be damaged. Operator stated he came to the Aurora Landing to get fuel and as he pulled up, realized he didn't have his wallet. Operator then advised he pulled away and as he did so he heard a "pop". Operator stated he didn't feel anything, but when he started back upstream he realized the boat was not handling like it should and he looked at the starboard (right) side of the boat and saw the damage to the boat. 

We then went to Tradewinds Marina where the boat was on a trailer there. I looked at the boat and took pictures. The boat appeared to have struck on the rear starboard (right) side of the boat, rupturing a white fender that had been hanging on the side of the boat. The boat appeared to have two molded portions, one for the top 2/3rds and one for the bottom 1/3rd. Near the rear (transom) of the boat the two portions had been separated at the seam extended approximately Eight (8') feet towards the bow (front) of the boat. There also was a crack clear through the gunwale approximately Four (4) feet from the transom (rear) of the boat. After looking at the boat I advised Operator I didn't believe his story, that I can't see how a boat could be so damaged by what he advised happened. I advised him I thought he or someone else while intoxicated had hit something then waited until sober to advise of the accident. Operator advised he understood, but stuck with the story of pulling away from the dock. I advised that the boat should not be moved until one of our boat accident reconstruction investigators had an opportunity to look at it. I also advised Operator that I may request him to take a polygraph. I then called Lt., a Division Boat Accident Reconstruction Investigator and advised him of the accident and where the boat was. 

On 9/4/12 approximately 1400 hours I took my jon boat to the Aurora Landing and put in and looked at the dock more closely for damage. I was unable to find anyplace that appeared to have been struck. I then saw the owner, drive into the parking lot and advised him of why I was there. Owner stated he had a video camera that looked onto the gas dock and I advised him of the date and time and we went up to the office located there and attempted to find the accident. Owner attempted to find it a few times then advised that it was a new system, that he hadn't learned how to operate it yet. He advised he would get with the night watchman, that he knew how to operate it and they would look for it. I gave Owner my cell phone number and advised him to call me whether they found it or not. 


On 9/7/12 I received a voice mail on my cell phone from Owner. Owner stated on the voice mail they had looked on the date in question, the date before and after and only observed one cruiser that passed about fifty (50) feet out from the dock. 

Aurora                        