On July 9, 2011 operator one (o1) was boating on lake herman with one passenger (p1) on board and two passengers (p2, p3) being pulled in a tube.  P1, p2, and p3 were all wearing their pfd's.  P1 was sitting in the passenger seat facing towards the stern of the boat observing p2 and p3 being pulled in the tube.  (note: there were four people total on board and only three pfd's.  Operator was cited for insufficient number of pfd's.)

Operator two (o2) was boating on lake herman with two passengers (pp1, pp2) on board and one passenger (pp3) wearing a pfd being pulled in a tube.  Pp1 and pp2 were sitting in the back of the boat.

At approximately 4:15 pm, o1 was heading northwest out of the south bay of the lake.  O2 was heading southeast out of the north bay of the lake.  The two operators were heading towards each other and met in a narrow stretch of the lake that connects the north and south bays.  This narrow stretch is approximately 200 yards wide.

O1 observed the other boat traveling in his direction and turned slightly to starboard, while o2 observed o1 and turned his boat to port.  O1 counteracted by turning slightly back to port while 02 mirrored o1 and turned his boat to starboard.  The boats were still inline with one another traveling at approximately 15 - 20 mph.

To avoid a collision (and avoid sending the tube with his kids into the path of the oncoming boat being operated by o2) o1 turned hard to port and shut down the throttle of his boat.  O2 responded by turning sharply to starboard and had slowed down slightly but was still maintaining enough speed to be on plane. O2's turn to starboard caused the tuber he was towing to be directed into the starboard side of 01's boat.  The passenger (pp3) being towed by 02, ran head first into the starboard side of 01's boat.

MADISON                       