According to operator statements obtained to date:

     On Sunday, June 24, 2012, at approximately 16:00 hrs, three personal watercraft (PWCs) were traveling downstream in a West-Southwest direction on Cherokee Lake near Holston River Mile 95.  Vessel 1 was a 1994 Yamaha.  Operator1’s sister was operating Vessel 2.  Operator’s husband was operating the third (uninvolved) PWC.  V2 and v3 were ahead of the v1.

     Vessel 2 slowed and came to rest, and Operator3 turned behind Vessel 2 and went from the port (left) side to the starboard (right) rear of Vessel 2.  Operator1 was concerned about the wake created by Operator3''s PWC, and slowed to cross it in such a way as to reduce the impact upon Vessel 1.  When Vessel 1 crossed this wake, Operator1 realized that she was about to collide with Vessel 2.  Operator1 yelled at Operator2, turned hard to starboard, and throttled up in order to try to steer enough to avoid Vessel 2.  Operator2 also accelerated Vessel 2 in an attempt to avoid the collision.

     Vessel 1 struck Vessel 2 in the starboard rear, with the bow of Vessel 1 striking Operator2 in her right mid-back.  Vessel 1 continued forward over the starboard aft portion of Vessel 2, separating from Vessel 2 just aft of the handlebars. 

     After the collision, all three PWCs traveled to the lake shore just to the North of the accident site.  Operator2 was transported to the Caney Creek Access Area by an unknown subject in a pontoon boat, then transported to Hawkins County Memorial Hospital.

ROGERSVILLE                   