INITIAL CALL:

At approximately 1800 hours while responding to multiple distressed and swamped vessel calls, NPS dispatch asked me to respond to buoy 19-20 for a vessel that had capsized and had people in the water.

RESPONSE:

I responded in my patrol vessel from the Antelope Marina.  As I was nearing the reported area I passed a capsized vessel on shore with people on the beach.  I continued on to the reported area I was originally told and found no capsized vessels or people in the water.  I then returned to the capsized vessel on the shore and was able to determine that this vessel was the call I was dispatched to.

ACTION TAKEN:

After determining that no people were injured I began the accident investigation.  Apparently this group had just returned to their campsite in the storm and saw that the high winds were blowing their tents and other camping gear around the beach.  They beached the vessel and began attempting to retrieve and secure their camp gear.  As they were doing this they saw that waves were crashing over the stern of their vessel.  The vessel was pulled slightly off the beach by the waves and capsized.  They held on to the bow line and kept the vessel from hitting some nearby rocks and were able to secure it to the beach.

The cause of this accident was a strong storm that moved into the area rapidly.  High winds with gusts over 50 mph caused 4-6 foot waves which swamped the vessel.

After completing the accident report I had them pack up their camping gear and belongings and transported them back to the Stateline Launch Ramp where their vehicle was located.  I asked NPS dispatch to notify Skylite Boat Rentals that this rental vessel had been capsized and was now secured to the beach.

Two witnefilled out witness statements and are available upon request.
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