On Sunday, June 19, 2011 I was notified by Lake County Sheriff''s Department of a personal injury watercraft accident. I arrived on scene and met with Deputy Sheriff who had begun to take statements from witness (attached). It was explained subject and the victim had both jumped into the water from the rear of the vessel. The vessel was operated and the interviewed parties explained the vessel was drifting. The Operator explained the throttle was in nuetral. The victim surfaced and was found to have his swim trunks stuck in the propeller and he had been cut in his left butt cheek. The Victim was freed from the outdrive and transported to shore. The Victim was then transported to Condell Hospital where he was admitted and treated in surgery.
I examined the involved vessel and found the propellor not to rotate while in the described condition the operator explained during the time of the accident. I took several photographs of the vessel (attached). During the inspection, I found the fire extinguisher to be empty and the current expiration decals were not applied. Given these were not contributing factors to the incident, Written Warnings were issued. The Operator was given a Preliminary Breath Test indicating his BAC was .000.
On Saturday, July 9, 2011, I was able to finally make contact with the Victim over the telephone. He was released from the hospital after three days of treatment and the only injury sustained was the laceration to the left butt cheek. The Victim explained the vessel was stopped, he jumped in from the port stern and was sucked under the boat. When he surfaced he became entangled in the propeller and was injured. I have nothing further.

Round Lake                    