According to the surviving passenger, he and the operator/victim had launched from South Shore Landing earlier that day to go fishing.  The passenger advised he thought his friend (the victim) operated V1 too fast and it scared him as they headed straight to the closed area of the lake where the water intake structure is located inside a restricted zone of water that is marked by buoys.  He stated he asked the operator to slow down but he refused to comply.  He said they fished inside the closed area about 10 minutes and when the operator cranked up the motor to leave, he decided to put on his PFD and he asked the operator to wear his also.  The operator refused and began to motor away heading east.  Passenger then advised V1 was going very fast and then for an unknown reason turned hard to the south then immediately turned hard back to the north and at that point V1 took on water and sank.  The passenger floated because of his PFD and he instructed the operator to calm down because he panicked.  He said he got him to calm down for a little while and was able to assist him in floating; while trying to swim to shore.  He said all at once the operator just started to sink down and he couldn't keep him afloat or save him.  He continued to swim toward the closest bank and once he reached the shore he took off his PFD to mark the spot where he came out; then proceeded to walk through the woods to the nearest residence and call for help.  
 
Searchers worked until 21:30 that night trying to locate V1 and the victim without success; the efforts had to be called off due to foggy weather conditions.  We began the search again the following morning at 09:30 using sonar equipment. Late that afternoon both the victim and V1 were located.  
 
The Coroner drew blood from the victim which has been sent to the AR Crime Lab and we are still waiting on the results.  Once V1 was raised, this investigator observed the motor was in gear and the throttle was in the wide open position.

MAGNOLIA                      