On July 21st at approximately 10:30, I Guadalupe County Game Warden received information from Comal County Game Warden regarding a boating accident hit and run that occurred earlier in the evening at  9:00p.m. on Lake Dunlap, public water right at the Comal/Guadalupe County lines.  Warden met with the complainant.  The following information was obtained by the complainant.

Operator2 was operating his boat with his navigation lights on Lake Dunlap, when a blue and white ski boat ran head on into his boat striking his front starboard side.  The blue and white ski boat was occupied by only the driver.  When Operator2 made contact with the operator of the blue and white ski boat, he realized the operator was extremely intoxicated.  Operator2 tried several times to get the operators name and phone number but was unsuccessful.  At the time, Operator2 took a picture of the operators registration number which read TX 5757 BB.  He also took a picture of the operator in the boat on the water with his Iphone.  At this point the operator of the blue and white boat became angry and tried to punch Operator2.  Operator2 was holding on to the side of the boat and urged the operator to take him to shore to trade information and inspect the damage.  Operator2 then told the operator he was calling the police.  At this time, the operator of the blue and white boat throttled up the boat and sped off, dragging Operator2.  The operator also tried to break Operator2's fingers to make him let go of the boat.  Operator2 estimated he was drug at least 100 yards on the lake and at times through some tree limbs over hanging on the bank.  Eventually Operator2 let go and sustained minor injuries to his right leg, and hip.  Warden gave me the registration number from Operator2's photo on his phone and I was able to identify the boat owner.  

I then drove to Operator1's address.  I met his wife outside and I told her I needed to speak with Operator1.  She said he had come in from a boat ride and went to bed.  I asked wife if we could go in and talk to him, and she gave me consent to come into the house.  Operator1 got out of bed and came outside and I questioned him about his boat ride.  It was very apparent that Operator1 was extremely intoxicated.  His speech was slurred and slow, and he continuously asked me why I was at his house.  Operator1 stated that he had been operating his boat on Lake Dunlap and had a confrontation with a man on a kayak.  Operator1 was very confused and very apologetic. Operator1 was not aware, and denied at first that he had been in a boat accident.  Wardens showed up and inspected Operator1s boat with  his permission.  They observed scratches on the starboard side of Operator1s boat consistent with Operator2's damage to his boat.  They also observed some tree limbs and leaves where it looked like Operator1 had ran under some tree limbs.  This is consistent with Operator2 stating that he was drug on the lake and through some tree limbs.   I asked Operator1 how many beers he had consumed and he stated he had four to five beers. I then performed standard field sobriety tests on the Operator1.  I observed six clues on HGN, six clues on Walk and Turn, and two clues on One Leg Stand.  I then read Operator1 his DIC 24 statutory warning, and placed him under arrest for suspicion of Boating While Intoxicated, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.  I transported Operator1 to the Guadalupe County Jail and booked him on the above charges.



New Braunfels                 