On 04/13/13 at approx. 10:10am this officer was notified of a possible fatality boating accident.  Through dispatch I was able to contact the operator and he advised they were approx. 1 mile down in the Old Lock 8 river channel on the Calion side.  The operator advised at this time they had struck a tree and the motor had hit his friend (victim) in the head and he thought he was dead.  We were able to get a boat launched at the nearest ramp and arrived on the accident scene at 11:14; where we found the operator standing on the west bank with V1 pulled up to the bank.  As we approached I could see the victim lodged between the consoles of V1 with his head down toward the operator seat.  The paramedic/deputy coroner checked the victim and advised he was deceased.  The operator was checked by EMT and taken back to the Calion Landing by another Wildlife Officer and subsequently transported to the hospital to be further examined and have blood drawn for BAC testing as required. 

Upon investigation it is determined that the operator and victim were traveling northeast up stream when V1 struck a submerged tree (approx. 60ft long) with the motor and then traveled down the tree approx. 12 to 15 feet.  In observing the damage to the tree, the motor struck a fork in the tree that sheared the motor from the jack plate of V1, throwing it up and onto the rear deck of V1 at the back of the seats.  The motor came to rest just at the back of the operator and passenger seats resting in a horizontal position.  The power pack was behind the operator and the propeller was just over the passenger seat.  As it came to rest, it is apparent the propeller struck the passenger in the top of the head, right side of his face and right shoulder causing slashing propeller wounds and massive head trauma. 

Blood evidence has been collected from both the operator and victim and has been submitted to the State Crime Lab.
 
08/19/13 Received Toxicology screens from Crime Lab - no alcohol or drugs found in either the operator or victim.
CALION