On Friday 06/28/2013 at approximately 8:00 AM, I, (CPO) was contacted by my supervisor and told to contact the United States Coast Guard at Calumet Harbor in reference to a boat accident that had occurred the night before.  I arrived at the Coast Guard station at Calumet Harbor and spoke with BM2.  He advised a recreational vessel had collided with the northern sea wall, overturned, and all three occupants were ejected.  BM2 said they had some of the belongings from the crash inside the station and they would turn them over to me for evidence or safekeeping.  The Coast Guard had also taken possession of a dog that had been on the boat.  BM2 said they were trying to find a kennel to house the dog in until the owner was released from the hospital.  After photographing the items they transferred a backpack with miscellaneous items and an IPAD, IPOD, and IPhone to me.

I then drove to the scene accompanied by BM2.  BM2 stated he had some of his men at the scene cleaning up the debris from the crash scene.  We arrived and spoke with men who were just finishing loading the items into their truck.  I asked them to transport the items back to the Coast Guard Station where I would come and take possession of the items after I was done photographing and processing the scene.  From the shoreline I could see the boat was overturned and resting on top of the sea wall.  As I approached the vessel I could see the entire vessel was out of the water and on top of the sea wall.  I then photographed the scene noting the throttle position was nearly all the way forward and the safety lanyard had been pulled free from the safety cut-off switch.  I then documented the registration number, Hull number, and took a GPS coordinate with my handheld GPS.  I then removed the mounted GPS screen that was on the center console and seized it for safekeeping.

I then spoke with CPO who was at Christ Advocate Hospital in Oak Lawn interviewing the victims of the accident.  He stated that he had spoken with the owner/operator and both occupants.  Operator had sustained injuries to his neck, and lacerations to his face and arms some of which required stitches.  Operator also had multiple contusions on his arms and knees.  Operator''s wife suffered severe neck injuries requiring surgery to repair the damage.  Operator’s wife also had a laceration on her scalp which required multiple stitches and suffered a fractured ankle.  Operator''s nephew suffered a laceration on his shoulder and his thigh which required stitches.  After speaking with CPO I completed a significant incident report and forwarded it to my supervisor for review.  I then returned to the Coast Guard Station and took custody of the items that were collected from the scene.  I then transported all items to our Chicago Heights evidence locker where I tagged and sealed all valuable items with evidence tape.  I then contacted Great Lakes Towing and made arrangements to have the vessel towed to Marine Works storage facility for further processing.

On 06/30/2013, I spoke with Operator by phone and made arrangements to return his valuable items to him at a later date.  On 07/01/2013, I went to Marine Works and processed the boat.  See attached photographs.  I again spoke with Operator on the phone and made arrangements to meet with him at 3:00pm to return his personal items to him.  I met Operator and nephew at the Chicago Heights Office shortly after 3:00pm.  At 3:37pm I read Operator his Notification of Rights.  Operator then decided to waive his rights and signed the waver.  His nephew signed as a witness.  Operator then provided a written statement (See attached).  I then issued Operator citation for Careless Operation of a Motorboat.  Inattention and restricted vision were causes.
South Chicago