On 09/15/2012 at approximately 10:00 hours V-1 with two people onboard were going Alligator hunting in the area of East Bay.  It was a clear very dark night. The water was calm.  They left the boat ramp from California Bayou. After leaving California Bayou they were heading Southeast.  The passenger was using a spotlight to light their way through the night.   The vessel was going approximately 20 to 30 miles hour.  While the vessel was under way the passenger put the spotlight down.  After a few seconds of putting the spotlight down the vessel hit head on into red channel marker 38.  The impact of hitting the channel marker threw the operator into the console and ejected the passenger from the vessel into the water. The impact caused major damage to the front of the vessel but the vessel was still sea worthy and the motor was still running.  

When the passenger was ejected he was not wearing his PFD. While the passenger was in the water the vessel's skeg ran over the front of his legs above the knee.  The operator then noticed that his passenger was in the water and retrieved him from the water.  When the operator pulled his passenger out of the water they put a turnakit on his right leg.  After the operator gave first aid to his passenger he proceed back to California Bayou and called 911.  After they reached the boat ramp the passenger was transported to Bay Medical.  When I arrived I helped put the vessel on the trailer.  The operators girlfriend transported the operator to Bay Medical for treatment.   ;

When the impact happen with the channel marker Operator slammed into the console of the vessel.  He received a laceration over his right eye, broken nose, contusion to his right knee and right bicep. He was treated at the hospital and released that night.; Occupant was unconscious for a few seconds and doesn't remember the impact.  While in the water the vessel's skeg ran over the top of his legs above the knees.  The left leg received a large laceration.  The right leg received a large deep laceration all the way around the leg.  Occupant  also received two large deep lacerations to his forehead.  Occupant  was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery for the lacerations to his legs and water in his lungs.
CALLOWAY                      