BASED ON INFORMATION TO DATE:  

On the afternoon of May 25, 2009 at approximately 18:40 hours, subject1 was operating a 20' Strarcraft deck boat on Cherokee Lake in Hamblen County.  subject1 was traveling downstream towards the dam and was passing between the Point 9 marker and the rock bluff wall of Panther Creek State Park. subject1 advised he was traveling approximately 20-25 miles per hour.  He stated that the boat was on plain.  subject1 noticed some floating debris out in front of him and reduced throttle quickly in order to avoid striking the floating debris.  The quick reduction in throttle caused the victim, subject2, to be ejected out of the bow of the boat.  Upon entering the water,subject2 stated she tucked into a fetal position and rolled underneath the boat and was struck by the out drive and propeller.  She surfaced approximately 15 yards behind the boat.  She stated that she could not feel her legs and started to tread water.  She screamed for help.  subject1 immediately turned the boat around to render aid.  One male passenger, subject3, jumped into the water and pushed her onto the swim platform.  The rest of the occupants rendered aid to subject2 while her brother subject1 drove the boat to Cedar Hill Marina.  subject2 was transported by ambulance to Panther Creek State Park and was flown by helicopter to Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, TN.

There was a total of 8 people on the vessel.  All occupants of vessel were under the age of 21 and were consuming alcoholic beverages.
MORRISTOWN                    