On the evening of 06/08/2012 at approximately 19:47 hours, I was contacted by dispatch that a single vessel boating accident had occurred on cherokee lake resulting in a serious injury.  I was informed that the accident occurred in the clouds creek area and the victim and vessel were being towed to the malinda''s ferry boat ramp.  Ems were on scene and awaiting the arrival of injured victim.  Upon my arrival, the injured victim and operator had already been loaded and was enroute to holston valley hospital.  

Operator was operating his 21''0" 1987 southern skimmer vessel in the clouds creek area located on cherokee lake in hawkins county.  Operator stated that he was traveling upstream towards the bridge from the lake.  He stated that he was distracted by looking at some campers and a campsite on the opposite bank.  When he looked where he was going, he noticed he was going to impact one of the bridge columns. He was unable to avoid the impact.  The vessel struck the upstream column first causing impact damage to the bow on the port side of the centerline.  After initial contact there was a secondary impact with the downstream column resulting in damage to the starboard side of the rail just in front of the transom.  Operator was thrown to the floor of the boat striking the front deck.  Operator estimated that he was traveling approximately 30 mph.

Two people were fishing upstream of the bridge.  They heard a loud crash and thought that a car had run off the bridge.  They looked towards the bridge and saw a white boat floating upstream of the bridge angled toward them.  They saw Operator attempting to lift himself up with his arms.  At this time, subject got his binoculars and looked at Operator and saw him ask for help.  They rendered aid and towed Operator and damaged vessel to the boat ramp at malinda''s ferry.  Operator was transported by ambulance to holston valley hospital.

Two campsites were located that evening in the clouds creek area. The first campsite was occupied by a man and woman who stated they had set up camp at dark.  The other campsite was occupied by three male fisherman that stated they were up the lake fishing and setting out jugs at the approximate time of collision.

ROGERSVILLE                   