I interviewed the witnesses and was briefed by Cpl. Young. I learned that the witnesses and their children were swimming in a cove near the train trestle bridge. They stated they heard a commotion and saw a man fall from his vessel into the water. The vessel started going in circles. The witnesses told me they went to the man and attempted to throw a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) to him. The subject could not get the PFD. They told me the vessel struck the subject at least two times and he floated to the surface. When the subject was pushed away from the circling vessel's path by the wake, the witnesses and a fisherman (identity unknown) retrieved him. They jumped into the water and placed him onto a float and then moved him to the swim platform on the rear of their vessel. They told me the subject appeared deceased at that time. 	
	I photographed Victim' vessel before boarding it. I observed the throttle was in the maximum forward position. The engine safety switch lanyard was in place and appeared in good condition. The lanyard was hanging down beside the operator's seat. It did not appear to have been used by Victim. The fuel gauge indicated empty. The trim position indicated the motor was trimmed up to approximately the middle position. I observed the vessel's engine was turned to the full starboard position. I measured the angle of the engine at 65 degrees. I observed several fishing rods and other fishing equipment lying on the port side compartment. Two of the fishing rods were laying on the rear deck next to the gunwale. They were slightly secured at the tips by a storage strap. One of the two rods had damage to the lure storage loop and a broken rod tip. The lure was missing and the fishing line appeared to have been stretched and broken. I also observed a cleat on the port side gunwale was pulled or knocked loose. Three of the four screws were bent and ripped from the gunwale. The damage pattern indicated the cleat had been forced out and away from the vessel center line. The vessel was photographed and cleared to be removed from the water. RFC Hendrix performed a preliminary search for perishable evidence before removing the vessel.
EMERSON