On March 31, 2013 at 0800hrs, I was notified of a vessel incident that had occurred on March 30, 2013 at 2200hrs.  I was contacted by Lincoln County OES Paramedic.  Paramedic contacted me by way of my mobile phone.  Paramedic informed me that she had responded to a patient call at Hwy 220 East Boat Landing.  Upon arrival at the scene, she met with three subjects who had been involved in a boating incident that occurred in Soap Creek .  One of the subjects had sustained severe trauma to her right upper thigh.  After a field evaluation was performed on Victim, it was determined she needed further medical treatment.  Victim was transported to University Hospital in Augusta by Lincoln County OES. I responded to University Hospital to meet with medical staff as well as any other subjects that might have knowledge of the incident.  Upon arrival at the hospital, I was informed that Victim was still at the hospital but was currently in surgery.  I did however, make contact with another occupant of the vessel.   

Occupant1 stated that he was a passenger of the vessel involved in the incident.  He stated that he and Victim were riding with the owner and operator of the vessel.  Occupant1 stated that they were on the lake and in route to a bow fishing location.  Occupant1 stated that they were traveling down Soap Creek towards the Savannah River when Operator struck an island that was in the middle of the creek.  He stated that the vessel immediately became airborne and jumped the entire rock island.  When the vessel landed the starboard side of the craft was inverted causing the ejection of Operator.  Occupant1 stated that he and Victim were thrown around the vessel as it came to rest pointing exactly in the opposite direction than they were traveling.  

It was at this time they discovered that Victim was injured due to impact with the steering console.  The three were assisted by some fishermen who witnessed the incident.  The vessel was left on the island and the fisherman took the three subjects to meet the OES Paramedics at the Hwy 220 East Boat Landing.  Occupant1 and Victim were transported to University while Operator returned to the incident site to retrieve his vessel.  Victim was treated by Orthopedics Specialists of Augusta for a complete brake of the upper right femur.  The bone had to be reset and a nail and two pins were inserted into the femur. At the hospital, contact was made with Operator via mobile phone.  A brief phone interview was conducted with Operator.  At this time, I responded to Operator's residence to interview Operator and inspect the vessel.  

During the interview with Operator, it was determined that Occupant1's statements were true and accurate.  Operator stated that it was very dark and he just did not see the island until it was too late.  He also stated that due to the Lake Water levels rising, he could not see the rock island because most of it was under water.  A inspection of the vessel revealed that there was moderate damage to the vessels hull,starboard freeboard gunwale, and starboard transom.  The nose cone of the  lower unit was also damaged.  The port underside of the hull had substantial marring and transfer towards the bow.  The middle of the underside port hull had a 29 inch rip or hole approx 2 inches from the keel ribbing.  The rip was approx 2-3 inches wide.  The starboard freeboard gunwale had a large dent and marring approx 48 inches long from the back half of the vessel extending to the transom.  The underside of the starboard transom had a 12 inch dent as well as a 4 inch rip or hole in the outer corner.  I took photographs of the vessel after obtaining a sketch of the vessel along with measurements of the damage.  I cleared the scene and no further action was taken.
LINCOLNTON