On 08/15/2012, at about 9:20 pm, a 1970's model Hewes Craft 12' flat bottom boat was beached at Crescent Bay's boat ramp and was still submerged.  The operator was contacted by law enforcement personnel.  The officers reported smelling alcohol on Operator's breath.  Operator stated that he had drunk a couple of beers after the accident while floating in the water.  Officers conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) on Operator which he passed.  Operator was advised by law enforcement not to operate a motor vehicle as he appeared to be near the legal limit. 

According to Operator's witness statement, he and two women, left Spring Canyon boat launch at about 6:30 pm towards a fire they saw burning on the North side of the lake.  Operator was operating the boat.  Occupant1 was sitting in the middle and Occupant2 was sitting in front.  Occupant1 was turning in the boat to see the fire and possibly trying to switch seats with Occupant2.  Occupant1 went to the front of the boat and then the boat took on water.  Operator put the boat in reverse to try to prevent the boat from sinking.  Ice chests and gas tanks were floating in the water.  Everyone on board was wearing PFDs.  A couple of nearby boats came to remove the 3 passengers from the water.  While the boat was under water Operator said he retrieved some beer from the cooler and drank the beer while swimming across.  This all occurred over approximately 2 hours.  Operator was transported back to Spring Canyon campground by law enforcement as he had no other means of transportation.  He asked officers if he could go get his truck and boat trailer at the launch.  He was once again told by law enforcement personnel that he could not drive that night and he would be able to retrieve them in the morning. 

After dropping Operator at the campground the officers left enroute to the Coulee Medical Center to take witness statements from Occupant2 and Occupant1.  Officers were advised upon arrival that Occupant1 had left with her mother.  They tried several times unsuccessfully to contact Occupant1 by telephone.  They left a message informing Occupant1 that a witness statement was needed regarding her involvement in the boating accident.  Occupant2 was being treated for dehydration.  She agreed to give a statement. 

According to Occupant2's statement, she was not wearing a PFD although there were 3 PFDs in the boat.  She was floating on 2 PFDs while she was in the water.  She observed Operator holding onto the boat while she was holding onto Occupant1.  She called 911 three times and Occupant1's mother once.  She was screaming for someone to help them.  A nearby boat arrived with people on it and removed she and Occupant1 from the water.  A person on the assisting boat said that another boat had rescued Operator.  Her next recollection was she was in an ambulance.  Operator had left to go to the boat.  Occupant2 told officers that she had 4 beers at the campsite then recanted saying she only had 2 beers.  She said everyone was having shots of whiskey prior to leaving on the boat. 

Officers left Coulee Medical Center and returned to Spring Canyon campground.  They observed lights from the boat launch area traveling towards the campsites.  Upon closer inspection one officer noticed it was a truck pulling a boat trailer.  As the truck came to rest at the Stop sign, he positioned the patrol vehicle next to the truck.  A female was operating with Operator in the passenger seat.  The officer asked if the female's name was (Occupant1) and she stated that it was.  Officers followed the vehicle back to campsite #27 and requested Occupant1's  ID and a witness statement.  She provided a Washington state driver's license identifying her.  While talking to Occupant1, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol emitting from her breath.  He asked Occupant1 how much she had to drink that night and she stated a couple of beers.  

Grand Coulee                  