I, CPO received an e-mail (10-26-2012) from Sgt. to follow up on a possible boat accident that occurred on 10-20-2012.  This accident involved carbon monoxide poisoning / Co2, and not a physical boat crash.
I made contact with subject via phone on 10-26-2012 and interviewed him.  Subject agreed to e-mail me all information needed to complete a boat accident report.  Subject stated he and 8 passengers were onboard his 27Ft. Sea Ray (IA 8734 AU) boat on 10-20-2012.  Subject stated they were having a late lunch at Ducky''s Bar and Grill south of Andalusia IL from 2:00PM  - 4:30PM.   Subject stated the marina area at Ducky''s was very shallow and he had trouble getting his boat out of the marina area. 
Subject stated a total of four people were treated at a hospital for Co2 poisoning.  These people were overcome with carbon monoxide fumes from the boats engine at about 5:00PM after traveling slowly back toward a Muscatine IA Marina.  Subject, two others were first treated at the Muscatine IA, Hospital, then taken by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.  These three persons were treated in a "Hyperbaric Chamber" to cleanse the Co2 out of their systems.  Subject stated a persons normal range for Co2 is 2.5%or lower.  One person stated his level was 11.8%, another was 5.9% and the third was 9%.  The fourth was treated at the Muscatine IA Hospital and released (Co2 was 5.3%).  These Co2 readings were taken several hours after the incident occurred.  The three persons who were treated in Iowa City IA, were released on Sunday 10-21-2012.  Passengers not listed in this paragraph were not treated for Co2 poisoning.
Subject believed his lower unit and exhaust area became packed with mud while exiting Ducky''s Bar and Grill.  Subject first believed this caused the Co2 poisoning.  Subject had the boat pulled from the water for winter and inspected.  No evidence existed the lower unit or any other area was packed with mud that may have caused an equipment malfunction.  subject now believes they experienced a "Backdraft" effect.  The wind was blowing into the back of the partially enclosed cabin area and the Co2 fumes accumulated, before it had an effect on them.  Subject stated they were "cruising slowly down the river so there wasn''t a lot of wind flowing through the cabin area".  Subject stated "It''s one of the crazyist and scariest moments that I have ever experienced".
In conclusion, evidence suggests the Co2 poisoning of passengers was most likely caused by the wind blowing the boats exhaust back into the partially enclosed cabin area.   No charges were filed in this case and nothing is pending.

Fairport IA                   