ON SATURDAY JANUARY 3, 2009, operator and passenger WERE TRAVELING UPSTREAM TO BRUSHY BRANCH BOAT RAMP. AS THEY WERE APPROACHING A TURN TO THE RIGHT, THE VESSEL STRUCK A NAVIGATIONAL MARKER POLE THAT DID NOT HAVE A REFLECTIVE MARKER ON IT. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF THE VESSEL BECAUSE THE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN FRONT OF HIM OBSTRUCTING HIS VIEW. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WOULD OCCASSIONALLY LOOK AROUND THE FRONT PASSENGER, WHO WAS FACING THE REAR OF THE VESSEL. HE STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE NAVIGATIONAL POLE. UPON CONTACT WITH THE NAVIGATIONAL POLE, occupant WAS THROWN FORWARD STRIKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS HEAD ON THE POLE AND HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. HE WAS KNOCKED OUT ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR. HE WAS TAKEN TO FLOYD MEDICAL CENTER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN RIGHT CLAVICLE.
CAVE SPRING                   