On 05-23-10 at approximately 10 PM Sgt. and I received a call from District 11 State Police regarding a possible boat accident on the Kaskaskia River.  At this time we contacted Clinton County Sheriff's Office and was advised that an airboat with 5 occupants had a mishap on the lower Kaskaskia River and were in the process of being rescued by a local commercial fisherman.  Sgt. and I then relocated to the boat ramp south of the General Dean Bridge to await their arrival.

    At approximately 1 AM we met with the subjects at the ramp and after my interviews were completed with all involved I report the following.
On 05-23-10 at approximately 9 PM the operator was operating his airboat in a Northeast direction on the Kaskaskia River when he attempted to maneuver his watercraft around a tight bend in the river.  As operator turned his airboat sharply the air prop sucked a large amount of water into the stern area of the craft.  This additional water weight added to the stern area of the airboat resulted in the craft rapidly sinking.  The airboat eventually sank to the bottom in a shallow spot in the river where it then came to rest.  At this time the occupants of the craft waited for assistance and were later picked up and transported to ramp at Carlyle.  Neither operator or any of his passengers were injured in the swamping and he advised that his boat would be removed from the river bank the following day.

End of report.
Carlyle                       