Vessel 1  was in operation headed east at a location south of the mid-point of the lake.  Vessel 2 was being operated in a northbound direction out of a channel from the Copper Penny (business).  Vessel 2 had just entered open water from a marked "no wake" zone when the bow of Vessel 1 collided with the port side of Vessel 2.   The majority of the damage to Vessel 2 was sustained in the port stern area, and the force of the collision ejected the two Occupants aboard Vesse1 2 into the water.  Vessel 1 also suffered significant damage to the bow area (the main point of impact was the starboard sponson area) and the Operator of Vessel 1 was injured when he struck the cockpit/windshied area which were also damaged as a result of the impact. 
As a result of the investigation, the Investigating Officer found the primary cause of the accident to be drug impairment based on a blood draw that was completed with results indicating more than three times the per se limit of marijuana. 

The secondary cause of the incident was determined to be Improper Lookout as in the course of the investigation the Investigator found that the Operator of Vessel 1 had a significant amount of time to both observe that there was a possibility of a collision, and a significant amount of time to avoid the collision.  Occupant 2  of Vessel 2  stated that  she saw Vessel 1 "a good distance away and didn't think anything would happen due to how far away the other vessel was".  The Operator of Vessel 1 stated that he had only been on the water operating for approximately four minutes and admitted that he saw Vessel 2 at the last second. 

The Investigator found the tertiary cause of the accident to be a Rules of the Road Infraction as the collision was a crossing situation with Vessel 2 travelling from south to north and Vessel 1 going from west to east.  Vessel 2 was thus on the starboard side of Vessel 1 making Vessel 1 the give-way vessel. 

The quaternary cause of the incident was alcohol use involving Vessel 2.  Lab records obtained by the Investigator indicated alcohol in the system of the Operator of Vessel 2, however the level was under the per se limit.
Thornville