OPERATOR OF PWC WAS ATTEMPTING TO HELP MEMBERS OF A RAFTING PARTY GET BACK FROM ETOWAH RIVER ABOVE SHOAL CREEK TO THE BOAT RAMP AT KNOX BRIDGE AT OR AFTER SUNSET. AFTER MAKING ONE PREVIOUS TRIP TO THE BOAT RAMP AND LETTING OFF TWO PASSENGERS, THE OPERATOR WENT BACK UP RIVER AFTER SUNSET TO PICK UP TWO REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE RAFTING PARTY. THE TWO REMAINING MEMBERS HAD ALREADY BEEN PICKED UP BY TWO FISHERMEN IN A JON BOAT AND WERE HEADED TO THE BOAT RAMP. THE JON BOAT ENCOUNTERED THE PWC APPROX. 1/2 MILE ABOVE THE MOUTH OF SHOAL CREEK. THE TWO RAFTING PARTY MEMBERS, 1 MALE AND 1 FEMALE, BOARDED THE PWC AND PROCEEDED BACK TO THE BOAT RAMP. THE FISHERMEN IN THE JON BOAT STATED THAT THE PWC LEFT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (APPROX. 30-45MPH). THE OPERATOR OF THE PWC CAME AROUND THE CORNER AT SHOAL CREEK NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND HIT A BRANCH FROM A TREE THAT HAD FALLEN INTO THE WATER. THE EXPOSED BRANCH ABOVE THE WATER CAUSED THE PWC TO RAMP UP AND THROUGH THE TOP OF THE TREE. THE OPERATOR OF THE PWC STRUCK A BRANCH WITH HIS FACE. THE IMPACT WITH THE BRANCH KNOCKED THE OPERATOR AND TWO PASSENGERS OFF THE PWC SENDING THEM INTO THE WATER.
CANTON                        