Operator stated that he was traveling approximately 65mph coming from between the state line islands headed toward Holiday Hills Cove.  He noticed a large 4-5 foot wave, possibly made by a large yacht headed upstream.  At about 50 feet from the wave he let off the throttle of his bass boat.  He struck the wave at an 80-90 degree angle.  Operator thought the boat went right and his body continued left.  He was ejected from the boat into the water.  When he surfaced the boat was capsized and he grabbed onto the hull.  He had a burning sensation in his legs and he was unable to move them.  Operator has 4 fractured vertebrae, no feeling in his legs, and a large contusion on the left leg.  It appears as the boat capsized, Operator was ejected and struck the front pedestal seat of the bass boat.  The pedestal was bent at approximately a 45 degree angle (original state was  90 degrees) toward the port bow.  


 12-16-10
I spoke with Operator.  He spent approximately 3 weeks in the hospital.  He has several pinched nerves in his back affecting his bladder and bowels.  He has difficulty walking due to numbness and loss of feeling in his legs.  The boat was totaled out by his insurance company.  


The TBI BAC results show a result of .05%.  Drug level finding were negative.  No other persons, vessels or property were involved in the accident.  No criminal charges are being pursued at this time.
COUNCE                        