While on duty I received a call from Cache County Dispatch at approximately 1530 explaining to me that a boater had injured himself and his boat was capsizing.  I then received information location and status of the boater.

VICTIM then told me he was heading north on the Bear River from the Benson Marina, when he hit something on the bottom of the river, he thought  he hit a stump.  At that point the motor snapped off of the back of the boat and flipped into the boat.  VICTIM then said he tried to stop it from coming at him.  VICTIM stopped it with his left hand as the prop impacted his wrist and hand.  VICTIM then stopped the motor and then used his trolling motor to the bank.  Where he called 911 and headed up the bank for help.  VICTIM then said thats when the Deputy found him and provided medical.  VICTIM then drove himself to the hospital for emergency care.

I then followed up with questions about the boat.  I asked if there was alcohol involved during his outing on the boat.  VICTIM then said he had 1.5 beers.    VICTIM then said after the accident he opened the second beer to try to kill the pain from the accident.  I then asked him if he would sign a disclosure to release the lab results to me to determine if he was over the legal limit.  VICTIM said he was unsure to ask his wife.  I then explained WIFE the disclosure form to determine alcohol in VICTIMS system. WIFE asked VICTIM what he thought and VICTIM said he didnt care. Due to VICTIMS injury WIFE signed the disclosure form for VICTIM.  The nurse was my witness for the disclosure form.

I then told WIFE and VICTIM that I was conducting the boat investigation and would need to inspect the boat for further investigation.  VICTIM then told me that his dad and friend were going to get the boat out of the river.  I then found the location where his boat was tied up.  I then found the father of VICTIM.   A search and rescue volunteer was also present at the boat.  I assisted father tying up the boat.

I then asked father permission to come on board to look around at the boat.  When I was  aboard I noticed the small motor sitting in the boat.  As I looked closer I noticed the motor clamps had broken off of the transom and the boat motor.  I also noticed a small amount of blood in the bottom of the center of the boat.  I also did a visual inspection of safety equipment on board.  I did notice a small electric trolling motor and one camouflage PFD.  I did not notice a fire extinguisher or a type 4 throwable on board.  The motor was small enough not to require insurance. There was various tools and other items in the boat as well.

As I was inspecting I noticed a cooler with 12 unopened beers in it.  I also saw one empty beer can located in the middle section of the boat.  The boat did not have current boat registration and no month sticker on the side of the boat.  

Photos of the boat and are added to this report.

10/31/2012

I met VICTIM at his home and asked how he was recovering. VICTIM stated that he had two broken fingers and also had tendon damage.  I then told VICTIM that he was going to be cited for an open container for the open beer can located in the boat.  I told him I would warn him on the registration.  VICTIM stated that he did not open the beer while he was operating and said that it was chicken shit.  VICTIM said that he opened a beer after the accident to kill the pain.  VICTIM said he could go out in the field and show me where the can was.  

Amalga                        