On Monday 7-18-2011 I was called to a boat accident at Marina Cay.  When I arrived I observed a boat (Bayliner 18.5' HIN MT 1846AY) on the west bank of the harbor on dry land.  There were two people in the boat when I arrived.   WIFE was injured and on the floor of the boat.  OPERATOR identified himself as the driver and stated that he had barely put the boat into gear when it took off.  WIFE stated that her husband had only pushed the throttle ahead about an inch when the boat took off.  This was the only information I received from the couple at this time.  They were then transported to Kalispell regional medical center.  Following their release from the hospital, Sergeant interviewed them and received their statements.
Each of these individuals stated the same thing, they watched the boat being pushed out from the slip by a wild Waves employee, and immediately the boat accelerated at its max, hit two other boats in neighboring slips, tilted approximately 90 degrees on its left side and the woman in the boat flew in the air, then turned sharply to the right and struck the side of the harbor and landed on dry land.  I then talked to the Wild Waves employee who pushed them out from the slip.  His statement is enclosed.  He further verbally stated to me that he did not hear the engine engage like it would normally, with the audible clicking of the gears, but rather it went to full rpm's instantly.  I asked him if he was saying that the throttle stuck on the boat, he replied that he believed so. I then talked to another employee of Wild Waves.  Her statement is also enclosed.  She state that she was at the end of the dock launching another boat when she heard the boat accelerate, crash into the other boats and land on shore.
Big Fork                      