On 8/22/09 at approximately 1:20 PM Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO1) was notified by WCO2 of a boat accident occurring on Brant Lake.  WCO2 Gust received the call from State Radio Communications and relayed the information to WCO1.  

WCO1arrived on the scene of the boat accident on Brant Lake at approximately 2:00 PM and met with the operator (OPERATOR1) of the boat and the owner (OWNER1) of the boat.  The accident took place on the south west side of Brant Lake just north of the outlet at approximately 12:30 PM.  There were two occupants in the boat, OWNER1 & OPERATOR 1.  OPERATOR1 informed the Officer that they were traveling NW from the south shoreline of the lake heading toward the west public access area of the lake.  OPERATOR1 was operating the boat and OWNER1 was trying to swivel the passenger seat around so it was facing forwards.  OWNER1 was having difficulty so OPERATOR1 assisted him with the seat and they ended up running into the shoreline and running the boat a ground on PROPERTY OWNER ground.  OPERATOR1 said he was operating the boat at a speed of approximately 30 mph when they hit the rocky shoreline which consisted of rip rap.  WCO1 asked OPERATOR1 what he thought contributed to the cause of the boat accident.  OPERATOR1 said, “Being retarded” and admitted that it was carelessness on his part.  OPERATOR1 said that he had turned away from the controls of the boat for approximately 10-20 seconds while helping OWNER1 with the seat while still traveling at 30 mph.  

OPERATOR1 received minor injuries to his face with small lacerations in his lip from hitting the windshield of the boat.  OWNER1 complained of soreness in his back and neck.  OPERATOR1 and OWNER1 both refused medical treatment.  The boat received a substantial amount of damage to the bottom of the hull and on both the starboard and port side of the bow.  There were numerous holes in the hull from the bow to the stern of the boat. 

WCO1 conducted a safety inspection of the boat.  The boat had all safety items present, personal flotation devices were not easily accesible, but were found in storage compartments.

There was no property damage to the shoreline.  WCO1 took pictures of the area where the accident occurred and pictures of the boat damage.

There was a small amount of alcohol in the boat, but alcohol was not a factor in this accident.  The operator was given a preliminary breath test (PBT) which the results indicated .000 BAC.
CHESTER                       