On 6-24-12 at approximately 5:00PM, Operator2 was operating Bass Tracker boat IL 7551 KM on Mississippi River Pool # 14 (URM 492) along the shore line above the opening to Safe Harbor in Hampton IL.  Operator2 and his passenger were fishing along the rip rap rocks on the river side of the entrance to Safe Harbor.  Operator2 operated downstream passing the opening to Safe Harbor.  Operator2 and V2 occupant resumed fishing.  V2 occupant snagged his lure and was trying to retrieve the lure.  The Bass Tracker boat was parallel and approximately five feet away from the shore.

At this time Yacht IL 3456 KD being operated by the owner, was traveling from the main channel into the Safe Harbor entrance.  Boat IL 3456 KD is a 37 foot Cruiser Yacht with twin engines on it.  This boat was traveling on plane at approximately 30 MPH past the Bass Tracker boat and into the entrance to Safe Harbor.  This action by boat operator Operator1 caused approximately a 4 foot wake to be created behind his boat and in close proximity to the Bass Tracker boat.  This wake caused the Bass Tracker boat to be thrown on top of the rip rap rocks.  The Bass Tracker boat was grounded completley out of the water.  V2 occupant in the Bass Tracker boat stated " I almost went over backwards into the river, the steering console was the only thing that saved me from falling in".  Operator2 stated he yelled at the operator of the large Yacht to "slow down".  Boat operator Operator1 yelled back "Fuck you".  Operator2 then yelled to Operator1, that he needed contact and insurance information.  The response from Yacht operator Operator1 was to stand up, extend his middle finger toward the Bass Tracker boat occupants with a beverage in his hand, and state "Fuck you bitch you’re on your own".

The closest house had two witnesses were seated on the back deck of this house facing the river.  A shed obstructed these witnesses seeing the Bass Tracker boat getting thrown / grounded onto the rocks, but they reported hearing the accident.  The next thing they observed was Yacht IL 3456 KD being operated by Operator1, well into the entrance to Safe Harbor on plane and at a fast rate of speed.  Witness1 ran to the shore line and observed the occupants Operator2 and V2 occupant sitting in the Bass Tracker on the rocks completley out of the water.  Witness1 was able to point to a precise location boat IL 3456 KD, the Cruiser Yacht started to slow down.  Witness1 stated it took approximately 7 people to get the Bass Tracker back into the water.  Witness1 then witnessed Operator2 operate the Bass Tracker boat into Safe Harbor to get boat registration numbers off the Cruiser Yacht operated by Operator1.  Witness1 reported Operator1 and a passenger of Operator1''s again verbally harassed Operator2 and challenged him to a fight.  Operator1 or one of Operator1''s passenger stated to Operator2 " Come up here and I''ll kick your ass you small little punk bitch"

Operator2 returned to witness house and called the Police.  Hampton P/O D. responded to the incident and interviewed all parties involved.  P/O filed a report and forwarded it to IDNR to investigate.  I, CPO was assigned this boat accident on June 26th 2012.  I interviewed witness2, Witness1, Operator2 and V2 occupant in person and on site on 6-29-2012.  I interviewed Operator1 at his residence in Hampton IL on 7-2-2012, with Hampton P/O present.  Operator1 was read a printed copy of the miranda warning prior to questioning.  Operator1 signed a statement waiving his rights.  Operator1 told a different story than he originally told P/O.  I deemed Operator1''s statements to be false.  Operator1 was arrested at 2:41 PM for "Reckless Operation of a Watercraft" 625 ILCS 45/5-2 and "Failure to Render Aid" 625 ILCS 45/6-1(a).  Operator1 was transported...

Hampton IL                    