I was contacted by patoka lake marina that two subjects arrived at the marina injured from a personal watercraft (pwc) accident.  I received the telephone call at 1529 hours on july 21, 2012.  I responded to the marina and arrived at 1542 hours.  The victims of the accident were located on a pontoon boat parked at the marina. Operator was the operator of the 2005 honda aquatrax r-12x, kentucky registration ky 0494 pz.  Operator was complaining of a possible broken back.  Occupant Was unable to respond in any detail.  He did complain of a severe head ache.  I stayed with occupant Until iu health ambulance service ems 2 arrived at 1554 hours.  Also arriving at the same time was orange county rural district 1 volunteer fire department.  I did not observe any signs of drug use or alcoholic beverages on the boat.  I then talked with Operator about the accident.
Operator told me that she was operating the pwc at a high rate of speed.  She stated that the water was two rough for her speed with a passenger.  Operator estimated her speed between 50 and 62 mph.  She told me that they hit a wave that sent the pwc airborne.  When they landed, the pwc began to rock from side to side causing them to leave the seat.  Occupant Was trying to hold on to her, but finally let go.  Operator stated that this caused her to leave the seat and land hard on the seat.  Operator told me that when she landed she heard a pop in her lower back.  Operator was then thrown from the pwc after the impact.  She stated that her legs were tinkling after the accident.  Operator stated that occupant Was thrown fifteen feet or further from the pwc.  She stated that he did not hit the pwc during the accident.  Operator then told me that they both re-boarded the pwc and went to the pontoon boat where other family members and friends were located.  Both subjects were wearing coast gaurd approved personal floatation devices (pfds).
The victims reached the pontoon boat, kentucky registration ky 0570 fe.   subject operated the pontoon boat to the patoka lake marina to get assistance.  subject told me that the accident probably happened around 1509 hours.  He stated that it took them fifteen to twenty minutes to get from the goose island area to the patoka lake marina.
Iu health ambulance service ems 1 arrived on scene at 1607 hours.  
occupant Was transported by ambulance (ems 2) to the beach area of patoka reservoir.  There he was transferred to air evac 17 and left for kosair's children hospital in louisville, ky at 1625 hours.
Operator was transported by ambulance (ems 1) to the beach area of patoka reservoir.  There she was transferred to air methodist and left for university of louisville hospital in louisville, ky at 1639 hours.
There were no witnesses to the actual accident.
I left the scene at 1651 hours.
On july 22, 2012, i spoke with Operator.  She told me that she had three fractured vertebrae in her lower back (l3, l4 and l5).  She stated that surgery has not been ruled out at this time.  Operator again told me the story of the accident.  It was the same account of the accident that she told me at the marina.

I then spoke with a family member of occupant  His only injury was a concussion.  occupant Has no memory of the accident.

Birdseye                      