IT WAS AROUND 10:30AM ON MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2011, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL REGARDING A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED NEAR THE TUCKERTOWN DAM ON BADIN LAKE.  AT THIS TIME SGT AND MYSELF WENT TO THE SCENE AND STARTED TALKING TO THE BOAT OWNER, AND A WORKER AT THE DAM.  The worker TOLD US THAT THE DAM COULD NOT BE STOPPED, BUT THAT HE COULD OPEN OTHER GATES FURTHER DOWN AND CLOSE THE CLOSER ONES.

AS I STARTED TALKING TO operator, HE EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT HAPPENED.  HE STATED THAT A FRIEND OF HIS AND HE WERE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO FISH ABOUT 150 YARDS BELOW THE DAM, AND THE MOTOR CUT OFF.  AS THEY TRIED TO GET IT BACK RUNNING, THE CURRENT STARTED BRINGING THEM TOWARDS THE DAM.  HE EXPLAINED THAT THE WATER FROM THE WAVES STARTED TO FILL THE BOAT AND THAT IS WHEN THEY KNEW THEY MUST LEAVE THE BOAT.  THEY WERE ABLE TO GET CLOSE TO THE FISHING AREA AND WERE ABLE TO TIE THE BOAT UP.  IT WAS AFLOAT BUT WAS FLOODED.  AS SGT. AND MYSELF LOOKED AT THE WATER AND THE CURRENT, WE KNEW IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS FOR US TO PUT A BOAT IN THE WATER TO TRY TO GET HIS OUT.

ON MARCH 15, 2011, worker CALLED ME AND EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE BOAT HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM WHERE IT WAS TIED UP AT.  ALSO, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE BOAT WAS UP AGAINST THE DAM AND THAT IT WOULD BE A TOTAL LOSS.
RICHFIELD                     