According to statements made in interviews conducted on the day of the accident by the witnesses in the boat, the following events occurred.  Operator was operating an 18.5 foot Sea-Ray open bow fiberglass runabout into Crystal Cove from Hamilton Lake.  The boat was recently purchased by the family and this was the first time they had used the boat. Across the boat from Operator in the passenger seat was another person.  In the port bow sat subject2 and Victim1 sat on the starboard bow.  They stated they were heading north into Crystal Cove approaching the bridge at Lane 280 at idle speed.  They were the first boat in a line of several boats approaching the bridge.  They saw several youths atop the bridge and knew that kids often jump off of the bridge into the water.  They entered the tube that runs under the bridge.  Partially in jest but mainly as a warning that they were under the bridge and approaching the other side, victim1 yelled,"Don't do it kid, don't jump it isn't worth it." 

As they exited the north side of the bridge, without warning, Victim2's lower back landed on Victim1's arm and hand which were resting on a 1" metal railing which ran approximately 2" off of and along the gunwale of the boat.  No one in the boat saw Victim2 until the impact happened.  The witnesses in the boat noted that the impact split two layers of Victim2's clothes, his shorts and underwear, and Victim2 then fell into the water.  The impact crushed Victim1's hand and wrist between Victim2 and the 1" metal grab rail, causing an injury removing part of the index, middle and ring fingers of Victim1's right hand.  Victim1 then collected the remains of the three injured fingers and placed them in a cooler on the boat.  They pulled the boat to the bank and awaited emergency personnel.  Victim1 was later transported to Parkview Hospital by Steuben County EMS.

Hamilton                      