On June 18, 2011 at approximately 11:45 am, I received a call on the radio from Early Co. S.O. in reference to a boating incident on the Chattahoochee River.  Dispatch informed me the incident took place about one mile south of Odom's Landing and a victim was being transported to southeast Alabama medical center.  When I arrived at the scene, I talked with one of the boat operators.  Operator2 informed me that he was traveling down river and tried to pass Operator1 on the right side in a curve.  While going around the Operator1's vessel at approximately 25-30 miles hours, he tried to cross the wake of Operator1's vessel.  As soon as he crossed the wake of Operator1's vessel, he stated his vessel took a 90 degree turn to the left and struck Operator1's vessel on the right side causing a large gash in the Nautic Star.  

I then asked Operator2 and his three passengers to write statements of what occurred, and I photographed both vessels.  All four written statements supported what Operator2 stated to me.  Operator2 informed me that the victim and driver of the Nautic Star were at the hospital in Dothan.  I then met up with RFC and drove to Southeast Medical Center, interviewed Operator1 and received a written statement from him and the passenger on the Nautic Star.  Both statements matched Operator2 statements.  The passenger of the Nautic State was identified.  She signed a waiver for her medical records to be released for the boating incident investigation.  Her injuries consisted of a fractured toe on her left foot and some abrasions and bruising on her left leg and face.  On Tuesday June 21, 2011, I contact Operator2 and informed him he would be issued a citation for violating rules of the road.  Operator2 informed me he would meet with me on Friday June 24, 2011 to resolve the matter.

BLAKELY                       