ON 7/11/2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 15:30 HOURS, WILDLIFE OFFICER AND I OBSERVED FOUR PEOPLE CLIMBING ONTO A CAPSIZED BOAT ON OLD HICKORY LAKE. THE LOCATION WAS IN THE MAIN RIVER CHANNEL AT THE MOUTH OF BLUEGRASS COVE IN HENDERSONVILLE. BASED ON INTERVIEWS OF THE PERSONS INVOLVED AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, THE FOLLOWING IS A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT OCCURRED.  Operator was TRAVELING DOWNSTREAM IN THE MAIN RIVER CHANNEL. OPERATOR STATED SHE WAS OPERATING THE BOAT AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ESTIMATED SPEED WAS 50 MPH. THE OPERATOR POSITION WAS LOCATED ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE VESSEL. One occupant WAS SITTING DIRECTLY NEXT TO OPERATOR. Subject2 WAS SITTING ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE VESSEL DIRECTLY NEXT TO HER. Subject3 WAS SITTING ON THE PORT SIDE, IN FRONT OF OPERATOR. OPERATOR STATED THAT HER HAT FLEW OFF HER HEAD. WHEN THAT OCCURRED SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE BOAT TO FLIP OVER EJECTING ALL PERSONS ABOARD THE VESSEL. NO PERSONS WERE WEARING A PFD.

OFFICER AND I HANDED PFD'S TO THE PEOPLE, INSTRUCTED THEM TO PUT THEM ON AND ASSISTED THEM INTO THE PATROL BOAT. OPERATOR COMPLAINED HER NECK WAS HURTING. I REQUESTED AN AMBULANCE TO MEET US AT THE BLUEGRASS YATCH CLUB. THE EMS PERSONNEL EVALUATED OPERATOR AND RECOMMENDED SHE BE TRANSPORTED TO HENDERSONVILLE MEDICAL CENTER EMERGENCY ROOM. OPERATOR REFUSED TREATMENT.

WIDLIFE OFFICER AND BOATING OFFICER TOWED THE CAPSIZED VESSEL TO BLUEGRASS YATCH CLUB'S ACCESS RAMP. owner ESTIMATED THE VALUE OF THE BOAT TO BE $4,000.

HENDERSONVILLE                