I, State Game Warden responded to a call from Azle Police Department at about 5:00 pm on 7-4-13 concerning a PWC accident on Eagle Mountain Lake.  When I arrived at the scene MSEO officers with the Tarrant Regional Water District were already there and had assumed the lead on the accident investigation.  We learned that a male subject had been thrown from a tube while being towed behind Vessel 1.  When the injured party went into the water, the operator of vessel 2 ran into him.  Victim was taken to shore and was later transported to the hospital for stitches.  Victim also spent  4 days in the hospital for swelling of the brain.  I assisted TRWD in questioning the operators and passengers of both vessels.  It was later determined that the operator of vessel 1 was towing two tubes with two passengers on each tube.  Passengers stated that the two tubes were bouncing off of each other and that is when Victim was ejected from a tube.  Passengers then stated that the PWC ran into Victim.  While talking with the operator of the PWC, it was determined that by his own account he was following the tube  at about 35 feet behind and cruising at a moderate speed.  Operator2 said himself that when Victim came off that he did not have time to miss him.  During interview with Operator2, a faint odor of alcohol was detected on his breath.  Operator1 denied drinking but submitted to a portable breath test indicating .029.  TRWD officer issued citation for DUI minor (watercraft) and reckless operation.  TRWD case # 13-0046.
Fort Worth