On December 30, 2012 at approximately 6:00 PM, Operator was operating his airboat on the east side of Lake Kissimmee near an area known locally as the "Milk Bus".  Occupant, Operator's girlfriend was also riding on the airboat.  Operator was seated in the rear seat located directly in front of the boat engine.  Occupant was seated in front of Operator in the passenger seat.  
       Operator decided to ride across the lake to the west side of the lake.  The open water was a little choppy due to the moderate winds on the lake.  Operator noticed that the starboard floodlight mounted on the safety cage was intermittently flashing on and off.  When he got to the west side of the lake, Operator idled the airboat in a lily pad patch near shore to fix the floodlight.  The wires leading to the floodlight were located inside the safety cage in close proximity of the airboat propeller.  Operator stood in front of the safety cage with his left foot on the gunwale and his right foot on top of the gas tank.  He then braced his right hand on the outside of the safety cage and reached inside of the cage with his left hand.  Operator's left index finger and middle finger were struck by the airboat propeller causing a severe laceration at the top knuckle of his index finger.  His middle finger also sustained a laceration and removal of the fingernail.  
     When Operator pulled his hand out of the cage, Occupant saw the injuries to his hand and immediately removed her sweatshirt and wrapped up Operator's hand.  She held onto his wrapped hand while he drove the boat south to a fishing camp known as Thomas Landing.  Occupant called 911 after arriving at Thomas Landing and waited for EMS.  Operator was taken to Lake Wales Hospital and immediately taken to surgery.  His index finger was stitched up, but it is unsure if the finger will be saved due to the severity of the laceration and multiple broken bones.  Operator was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation.
     Alcohol does not seem to have played a part in the accident.  Polk County Sheriff's Deputy was the first officer on scene and said that she did not observe any signs of impairment.  When I  documented the accident scene I did not find any alcohol or beer containers on the boat.  While interviewing Operator at the hospital I did not see any signs of impairment.  

Operator received injuries to his left hand caused by airboat propeller strike.  Operator's left index finger received a severe laceration and multiple bone breaks.  His left middle finger received a minor laceration and total removal of the fingernail.
LAKE WALES                    