On 072013, I Corporal, was patrolling Lake Oconee with RFC.  I received a call from the Putnam County 911 center in reference to a boat incident that took place on Lake Oconee.  The dispatcher advised me the victim was being taken to Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton, GA.  The dispatcher provided me with the phone number of the victim.  I called the number and I spoke with the husband and the operator of the personal watercraft.  Operator advised me he was taking his wife, the passenger of the personal watercraft, to the hospital.  I advised Operator we would come to the hospital to follow up on the incident.

RFC and I went to the Putnam General.  Upon arrival, We made contact with Operator.  Operator stated he and his wife were riding a PWC when the incident occurred.  Operator stated he had passed behind his friends vessel, hit a wake causing the PWC to make a sharp turn, which threw his wife off the vessel and impacted the water.  Operator stated they were traveling about 35 mph when they hit the wake.  Operator stated the PWC came out of the water and when it landed, hit another wake causing the PWC to make an abrupt turn to the right throwing his wife off the PWC into the water.  I asked Operator if the PWC hit his wife or if she hit anything in the water and he stated she only impacted the water.  I asked Operator how close he was to the vessel he was with.  Operator stated he was around 30 to 40 yards behind the vessel.  Operator stated the waters were very congested where they were boating.

I spoke with Victim.  Victim stated they hit a wake and was thrown from the PWC.  I asked Victim if she had hit anything in the water or if the PWC hit her.  Victim stated she only impacted the water.

RFC and I went to where the PWC was stored.  We looked at the PWC and saw no signs of damage or where the PWC may have impacted the victim.  There was no alcohol involved in the incident.  The victim had three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a bruised spleen.  The victim was released from the hospital on 072113.
GREENSBORO