On 7/25/09, KDWP NRO was on patrol at Milford Lake.  At 1513 hours NRO received a call from Geary Co Dispatch that a boating accident had occurred near Thunderbird Marina on Milford Lake and that an individual was injured.  NRO notified the dispatch that he was in route to that location by boat.  NRO arrived shortly thereafter.  
Park Rangers from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Officers of the Geary Co Sheriff's Department, and other officers of the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks were all on scene.  NRO met with a female who identified herself as Witness 1, the wife of the victim, Victim 1.
Witness 1 said that her husband, Victim , was riding on a tube being pulled by a PWC that was driven by Operator 1.  Witness 1 said that she did not see the accident, but that she was told that Operator 1 was driving the PWC at speeds around 20-40 mph, and suddenly stopped.  This action caused Victim 1 to lose his balance on the tube and slide forward.  She said that Operator 1 then gunned the motor and the metal hook that attached the tube to the tow rope became embedded into Victim 1' right forearm. Witness 1 said that Victim 1 removed the hook from his arm, was lifted on the PWC by Operator 1, and then he drove himself back to the shore. Once he was on shore, Witness 1 said that someone called 911.  She said that she and Victim 1 had just purchased it a few days earlier.  NRO gathered all necessary information from Witness 1 and thanked her for her time.
NRO spoke with Operator 1.  He said that he was driving the PWC on Milford in the cove near Thunderbird Marina, and Victim 1 was on the tube behind it.  Operator 1 said that he was traveling at speeds around 20-35 mph and weaving around a lot. He said that once Victim 1 fell off the tube he yelled to stop. Operator 1 said that he drove back around to pick Victim 1 back up and saw that he was bleeding from his right arm.  He said that he lifted Victim 1 up onto the PWC, and Victim 1 drove himself back to shore. Operator 1 said that someone else in another boat gave him a ride rack to shore. Operator 1 said that he was not drinking alcohol that day. He said that he and Victim 1 were both wearing their personal flotation devices (PFD's). Operator 1 said that they are both soldiers in the same unit stationed at Ft. Riley. Operator 1 completed a voluntary statement. NRO thanked Operator 1 for his time.
NRO spoke with emergency personnel, and they said that due to the severity of the injury to Victim 1' right arm, they were going to have to fly him by helicopter to Stormont Vail hospital in Topeka.  LIFE FLIGHT helicopter arrived shortly thereafter and transported Victim 1.  Another member of the same unit on Ft Riley arrived with a vehicle and trailer for the PWC. NRO located the tube, rope and hook. There was no torn fabric on the rope or tube. The hook was not broke and appeared to be working properly. The PWC that Operator 1 was operating was removed from the water. NRO conducted a vessel inspection of the PWC. All of the required safety equipment was on board. There were not Kansas registration numbers affixed to the PWC, as Witness 1 said that she had just registered it a couple of days before. There was blood on the back of the seat of the PWC. NRO photographed the PWC and the hook used to attach the tow rope that Victim 1 was riding. There was no damage to the PWC. NRO concluded that this incident was an accident, and that Operator 1 was not in violation of negligent operation. NRO did not issue a citation in this incident.
Junction City                 