Operator was operating his father's boat at approximately 01:15 hours on the morning of May 1, 2011 and hit a cypress tree located approximately 300 yards northwest of his father's boathouse.  Operator stated that he had been at the Cypress Grill in Crisp County with several friends prior to midnight.  He was transporting 4 passengers aboard the vessel as his intention was for all to go to his father's house located on the west side of Lake Blackshear in Sumter County.  A neighbor that lived 2 houses to the north of the home heard the incident and went to render assistance to those in need.  He transported a male and a female subject by vehicle to the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus where both were treated for injuries.  One of the injured was treated and released at the emergency room for a cut to the top of his head.  Another victim was treated for pain and injury to her back and was also released the same day.  The boat operator, although sustaining minor scrapes/cuts to his face, did not have any emergency treatment and stayed at his father's house.  Another of the passengers also stayed the house this same night and slept on a downstairs sofa.  He also needed no emergency medical treatment.  The other passenger aboard the vessel had minor cuts and bruises from the incident but did not require emergency medical attention.  He did not stay at the house for the rest of the night.
cobb                          