On 8/9/2012, at about 2:10pm, vessel #2, a 1998, 20' had been traveling counter clockwise at the south west end of Lake Sawyer.  He was towing 2 tubes with the victim riding on one and another person on the other. He explained he was following another boat, vessel #1, a 2000, 18' open motorboat at an estimated distance of about 75 yards.  All of the persons aboard both boats were part of a gathering.   

Operator2 stated he followed vessel #1 as it executed a full circle and started a second circle in the same area.  Operator2 said his boat continued counter clockwise coperator1ing his wake causing the victim to fall off the tube.  He said one of his passengers raised a ski flag to indicate the downed rider as soon as she fell off the tube. He explained vessel #1 continued counter clockwise circular path to the outside of his boat.  Operator2 stated as he slowed to recover the victim, he saw vessel #1 headed towards his position.  Vessel #1 continued on its path hitting the victim then turning toward the north.  Operator2 heard the victim calling for help and with assistance of the other passengers she was pulled aboard then taken to dock #61.   

Vessel #1 operator, confirmed Operator2's statements in reference to the path his boat had taken.  According to Operator1, he was towing a tube with 3 boys on it.  After making the first circle he continued into the second circle in a northerly direction.  As he continued, vessel #2 was traveling in a direction heading towards his direction of travel.  Operator1 said he saw vessel #2 start to slow and believed it was slowing to allow him to continue on his heading.  Vessel #1 continued northbound passing vessel #2.  Shortly after passing vessel #2, Operator1 heard yelling discovering the victim had been struck.  Operator1 stated he did not see a flag being displayed on vessel #2. 

Operator2, Operator1, and their passengers were interviewed by law enforcement.  No one indicated that they observed any unsafe or reckless operation by either operator.  Operator2 told law enforcement he believed Operator1 did not see the flag or the victim. 

The victim was transported, with non life threatening injuries to her ankle, to Valley Medical Center for further treatment.  She later told law enforcement that when she was thrown from the tube she started to swim towards vessel #2.  She saw vessel #1 heading towards her and knew the boat was going to hit her so she tried to dive down.  Due to the fact she was wearing a PFD she was not able to dive far enough and was struck by the boat.  Vessel #1 went directly over her first striking her with the bow.  The boat continued over her eventually becoming injured by the propeller.  She believed vessel #1 was starting to slow just prior to hitting her.  She stated she did not feel Operator1 had been operating the boat in a reckless or negligent manner prior to her being hit. 

There were no indicators or evidence of drugs or alcohol involved in this incident.  All parties from both boats were wearing PFDs.  There were no vessel damages reported.

Black Diamond                 