On July 7, 2012 at approximately 20:40 hrs I and Officer were working boating enforcement on Cherokee Lake.  I overheard a 2 personal watercraft collision be dispatched over my county radio.  They dispatched medical personnel and Hamblen County Sheriff Deputies to the scene.  I called the county dispatch and advised them that I had copied direct and would be enroute.  I notified my dispatch of the collision and that Officer and I were responding.

Based on verbal and written statements:

At approximately 20:35 hrs, two personal watercraft were being operated just off shore from Greenlee Campground at Fall Creek on Cherokee Lake.  Both men stated that they wanted to "cool off" before dark so they were driving their PWC''s out from their campsite.  A family member of Operator2 hollered at him from shore.  Operator2 stopped his PWC just off shore to speak with the family member.  Operator1 did not see Operator2 stop.  Operator1 advised that he tried to make a hard right turn to avoid colliding with the PWC operated by Operator2.  Operator2 said he looked over and saw that he was "fixing to get hit" and advised that he tried to jump off to the left of his PWC.  Vessel 1 struck Vessel 2 on the starboard side in line with the steering console ramping up and over towards the bow of Vessel 2.  Operator2 received a laceration to the top of his right foot as his foot struck the throttle bolt on his handle bar.  Tissue and blood were present on the bolt and throttle lever.  Multiple people from the campsite pulled both men and PWC''s to shore.  Operator2 refused ambulance ride to hospital.  He was transported by his sister, Operator1''s wife, to Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, TN.

Alcohol was present at campsite.  However, both operators immediately consented to blood draws when advised of TCA 69-9-217.

MORRISTOWN                    