On saturday aug 18, 2012 at approximately 4:13 pm, i was notified of a boat accident near the newton/steward ramp of patoka reservoir by conservation officer.  Officer had just received a phone call from the patoka lake marina in regards to the accident.  Officer was working a detail at the state fair and unable to respond.
Operator1 stated he launched his 1996 red/white/blue glastron bass boat at approximately 4:00 pm to pre-fish for an upcoming tournament.  He stated in his voluntary statement that from the ramp/idle area he heading west towards the portion of the main lake.
Operator1 stated he had not gone more than 200 yards from the ramp when he was struck by another vessel, a white glastron runabout ski boat.  Operator1 explained he first noticed the glastron when he left the idle zone.  It was already up on plane in front of him heading west towards the main portion of the lake as well.  Operator1 stated he was behind the glastron going in the same direction off to the glastron's port (right) side and going through the glastron's waves.  Operator1 stated his passenger yell watch out and the glastron made a right hand turn into his path.  Operator1 stated he jerked the steering wheel to the right in a last ditch effort of avoid the collision, but the vessels collided.  

 operator1's 1996 glastron bass boat sustained all of its damage to the port side.  Above the rub rail, in front of the windshield extending three foot towards the stern, was a fracture without separation in the fiberglass running with the direction of the boat.  Directly under the rub rail was a five foot fracture of the fiberglass without separation running with the direction of the boat. Two other smaller fractures were located near the registration number up towards the bow of the vessel.  Near the 2011 dnr lake permit sticker was an eight inch fracture in the fiberglass running long ways with the vessel.  Directly behind that fracture going towards the stern was a fracture running horizontal with the vessel which spidered off in different directions as it ran up towards the rub rail.  The rub rail on the glastron was red; however, paint transfer of white could be seen.  The metallic blue flake fiberglass also had white paint transfer in it.  [further- see photographs of the damage]

 next, i interview the occupants of the glastron runabout.  Operator2 indicated he was operating the 1996 glastron runabout heading west from the newton/steward ramp.  occupant indicated to me he was seated behind the driver's seat next to the engine, facing forward when the accident happened.  Occupant2 stated he was standing behind the passenger seat hanging on to the ski rack looking forward as well.  Occupant3 indicated she was seated with seven year old occupant4 front of the driver's seat near the bow section of the vessel facing the rear.
 operator2 stated they were heading west from the ramp and were making one last lap before returning to the boat dock.  Operator2 explained he turned to his right to return to the dock and subject yelled look out.  Operator2 explained he had not seen the vessel until the last minute and yanked the steering wheel back left in an attempt to avoid the collision.  Occupant2, who was standing near the engine, saw the accident about to occur and jumped from the vessel into the water.  He was not wearing a life-jacket.  The only person on board wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident was seven year old.  


French Lick                   