On July 2, 2011, at approximately 1600 hours, NRO received a call from the Montgomery County Sheriff stating that there was a boat accident at Elk City Reservoir. NRO started to respond from Gelena, KS 80 miles away. Upon NRO''s arrival it was found that a seasonal park ranger at Elk City State Park had found that there were no injuries, he got written statements from both vessels and sent them home. NRO collected these statements and made contact with both vessel operators by phone. The following day NRO drove to Longton, KS and made contact with the owner/operator of vessel one. NRO got the information on all five occupants of vessel one and then the operator Operator1 told NRO what had happened. Operator1 stated that he and two juveniles were in the vessel pulling two more juveniles on tubes heading westbound approximately 400 feet from shore. Operator1 stated that they were parallel with the shoreline. Operator1 saw vessel two accelerating from the about 100 feet from the shore heading northeast right into his path. The bow of vessel two was high in the air due to the operator accelerating quickly to pull up a skier that was in tow. Operator1 immediately put his vessel in reverse put realized if he backed up that he would hit the juveniles that he was towing. This action killed his engine and made them stalled in the water. As soon as they stalled vessel two saw them and tried to turn sharply north but ended up running over the bow of vessel one. There was no one injured but there was approximatley $3,200 worth of damage done to the vessel. 
After speaking with Operator1 and taking photos of the vessel, NRO met with the owner/operator of vessel two at the boat ramp in Elk City State Park. Operator2 stated that he was trying to pull a skier up from the shore line. When Operator2 turned and looked forward he saw vessel one coming at him but it was too late and he tried to turn sharply and hit the bow of vessel one with his keel. NRO explained to Operator2 from the damage to his vessel and the other vessel that he was at fault. Operator2 was the give way vessel and was creating wake to close to shore and swimmers. NRO issued Operator2 a notice to appear for prohibited operation. Operator2 stated that Operator1 too was creating wake close to swimmers. NRO stated that he would look into it and after looking at the statements and looking at the evidence it was shown that Operator1 was stopped in the water at the time of the accident and could not have created wake. NRO took photos of Operator2''s damage and it was estimated at $1000.

Independence                  