BOTH BOATS WERE HEADING WEST BOUND. BOAT#1 OPERATOR CLAIMS HE CAME UPON AN "UNLIT" PONTOON BOAT#2. BOAT#1 SWUNG TO THE LEFT IN ATTEMPT TO AVOID CONTACT BUT STRUCK THE PONTOON IN THE PORT STERN. THIS ACTION CAUSED BOAT#1 OPERATOR'S BROTHER TO FALL OVERBOARD. BOAT#1 WENT BACK TO PICK-UP PASSENGER-BROTHER FROM THE WATER. AFTER CHECKING WITH EVERYONE ABOARD HIS BOAT (FOR INJURIES) BOAT#1 HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT THE PONTOON HAD LEFT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. MINUTES LATER BOAT#1 CAME UPON PONTOON BOAT#2 AT THE WATER EDGE'S RESTRAURANT WHERE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL WERE ARRIVING. BOAT#2 OPERATOR REPORT CLAIMS BOAT#1 STRUCK BOAT#2 AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED & SPED OFF AFTER THE INCIDENT, ONLY TO RETURN TO #2  PONTOON BOAT'S LOCATION 15 MINUTES LATER AT THE EDGE RESTAURANT WHERE BOAT#2 WAS AWAITING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR AN INJURED PASSENGER. LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION COULD NOT VERIFY BOAT#1 OPERATOR'S CLAIM THAT THE PONTOON HAD NO STERN LIGHTS ON. OFFICER REPORT FOUND FAULT WITH BOAT#2 OPERATOR ACTIONS BUT NO CITATION WAS ISSUED PER OFFICER'S REPORT.
CHIPPEWA FALLS                