The operator was out riding with friends with his newly purchased vessel. The vessel containing his brother in law and son was operating ahead of him. It is unknown what occurred but the vessel swamped and capsized. The operator drowned and was recovered the next day.

On 8/10/12, I, Investigator, received notification from Lt. that a vessel had been found capsized and the operator was missing on the Peace River. I responded to the scene and met with Lt. he stated that the vessel had sank, but Desoto County Sheriff's Office dive team was in the water searching for the operator. Lt took me to the scene of the accident. Desoto SO had connected a line to the submerged vessel, at that time we towed the vessel to the west bank with the help of the landowner.

Upon my inspection of the vessel I could not find anything mechanically wrong with it (rudder operation normal, throttle normal, no sign of propeller damage). Also during my inspection I could not find any hull failures or impact marks.

I spoke with the brother in law he stated that they had been cruising on the river and after leaving the Nocatee boat ramp they begin to head up river with BROTHER IN LAW's vessel in the lead with one person on board and the victim following a distance. BROTHER IN LAW stated that they traveled north for awhile and pulled over to wait on VICTIM to catch up, but upon stopping they did not hear VICTIM's vessel they traveled downstream and found the vessel capsized. BROTHER IN LAW stated that he and Occupant dove trying to locate VICTIM, but was unsuccessful BROTHER IN LAW called 911. This statement corresponded with the one Officer obtained from BROTHER IN LAW and Occupant.  Officer continued to look thru out the night and keep the scene secure.

On 8/11/12, both FWC and Desoto SO units responded to continue the search or VICTIM. FWC Pilot arrived and started the search from the air when he spotted something hung up in a snag. Officer responded to the location and found it to be the deceased VICTIM. District 12 Medical Examiner was contacted and notified of the death (case number 12-0569-D-018). The body was examined by me and I did not find any visible trauma to the body. The body was released to the Medical Examiner transport.

On 8/12/12 I was contacted by Investigator with the District 12 Medical Examiner's office with the initial cause of death from the autopsy preformed. She stated it was listed as accidental drowning.

Based on evidence and information gathered to date, due to the fact that there is no sign of damage or trauma to the deceased the cause of this accident may never be fully understood. It is a fact that by some action either operator error or some other action the vessel swamped and sank on the Peace River thus putting the deceased in a situation where he drown.  

the findings of his autopsy with the cause of death as Drowning, with a contributory factors as Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Heart Disease.; 

ARCADIA                       