VESSEL 1 HAD JUST FINISHED FISHING AND WAS HEADED BACK TO HONEY CREEK.  OPERATOR STATED HE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 45-50 MPH WHEN HE HEARD SOMETHING HIT HIS MOTOR CAUSING HIS BOAT TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN.  UPON LOOKING BACK, OPERATOR STATED THAT THE OUTBOARD MOTOR WAS GONE.  OPERATOR STATED THAT MANY PADDLE FISH JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS INCIDENT.  HE ALSO STATED THAT A RED SUBSTANCE WAS IN THE WATER AROUND HIS BOAT AFTERWARD.  OPERATOR STATED HE ASSUMED HE HAD STRUCK A LARGE PADDLE FISH WHICH CAUSED HIS MOTOR TO BE KNOCKED OFF THE BOAT.  THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER SURVEYED THE AREA AND FOUND NO OBSTACLES OR DEBRIS IN THE WATER IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS IN THE MAIN BODY OF THE LAKE NEAR SUGAR COVE.
ZENA