On 07/24/12 at 3:24 PM, I (CPO) was notified of a boat accident on Rend Lake.  I met with owner/operator at Dam West boat launch.  Operator said he operated his boat with 3 male passengers aboard and towed 2 other males on a tube.  He operated westbound toward Sandusky Beach when he hit something in the water.  Operator thought he was 200-300 yards northeast of a hazard buoy in the middle of the lake.  The buoy marks a sandbar.  The danger of grounding around the buoy is increased at the time of the accident due to lower water levels at Rend Lake.  Two of the men rode on a tube at the time of the accident.  Operator said upon impact the stern of his boat rose up and slammed down.  The boat was inoperable.  Operator said they drifted south and the boat began to sink.  The above diagram depicts the angle and location of where the boat sank.  The boat ended up southwest of the hazard buoy.  The crew put life jackets on and was picked up by a pontoon boat.  Everyone safely arrived to shore. I took Operator''s information and gave him the boat accident report form.  I boarded the Corps of Engineers boat along with the Rend Lake Search and Rescue Team and went to the sunken boat.  I photographed the boat.  SAR Team attached buoys to the sunken boat and COE Rangers towed it to Dam West Boat Launch.  The lower unit on the boat was severed in half.  The boat was drained of water and successfully loaded on trailer.  End of report.
Benton                        