According to witness statements and an assessment of available evidence:

On Wednesday, May 23 at approximately 09:30 pm, Operator2 and V2 occupant were fishing from Vessel # 2, which was a 1986 Brownlow Bass Boat anchored near the Taylor''s Bend area of Douglas Lake in Jefferson County Tennessee.  Both occupants stated that they saw and heard Vessel #1 coming towards them without any navigational lights on, which was a 1982 Alumacraft boat being operated by Operator1.  V2 occupant began to yell at the oncoming vessel which was approaching them from the rear.  Operator1 heard the screams and stated that he made a last second effort to turn his boat to the left to try and avoid a collision.  Vessel #1 struck Vessel #2 at the port stern causing Operator1 to be ejected into Vessel #2 and through the port console windshield.  Operator2 was thrown into the rear of his vessel where he struck the middle seat injuring his back and side.  

Vessel #1 continued to travel around in circles without any lights on.  Fearing that they would be ran over by the circling vessel, Operator2 operated Vessel #2 back to Walter''s Bridge Access Area where both vessels had been launched earlier in the day.  Subject1 witnessed the accident from another vessel and remained with the circling vessel until it ran out of fuel.  Subject1 and his passenger towed Vessel #1 to a boat ramp at Baneberry, which is near Walter''s Bridge. 

Subject1 gave a written statement that Vessel #1 was not displaying any navigational lights.  Official sunset was 8:42 pm.   

Operator1 smelled of an alcoholic beverage which was upon his breath but repeatedly denied any alcohol consumption.  He gave verbal consent for a Blood Alcohol Test and was taken to the Newport Medical Center by Officer Shelley Hammonds.  

Three empty beer cans from Vessel #1 were collected as evidence.  

Both vessels were impounded and stored at the Region 4 Office in Morristown.  A Humminbird GPS unit was seized from Vessel #1 and a Humminbird Fish Finder was seized from Vessel #2.

Baseline/Offset measurements were taken from both vessels on May 29, 2012 by four officers.

Update 07/18/2012:
An Official Alcohol Report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reveals that Operator1 had a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.07 percent approximately three hours after the accident.  A drug screen and an analysis of the pedestal light of Vessel #1 are still pending.

DANDRIDGE                     