On Saturday, May 21, 2011, at approximately 5:15 pm, operator was operating a personal watercraft (PWC) on Lake Ray Roberts near the Highway 377 (Buck Creek) bridge.  According to operator’s wife, this was the first time that Operator had ever operated a PWC.  As Operator approached the bridge at 20-25 mph, he attempted to swerve at the last moment to avoid a bridge pylon.  Operator let off of the throttle and attempted to turn the PWC.  The PWC continued toward the pylon and made contact with it.  Upon striking the bridge pylon, Operator was ejected over the handlebars of the PWC.  During the ejection, Operator's right thigh made contact with the right handlebar of the PWC.  This resulted in a fracture of his femur.  Operator then landed in the water.  Operator was wearing a PFD.  Operator’s wife witnessed the accident and assisted Operator to shore.  The Grayson County Sheriff's office was contacted and an ambulance was dispatched.  Operator was transported by ground ambulance to Wilson and Jones Hospital in Sherman for treatment.  I, State Game Warden, received notice of the accident at approximately 5:45 pm and went to investigate.  I made contact with Operator’s wife and she told me that Operator had been horse playing on the PWC when the accident occurred.  She stated that it was his first time on a PWC and that he probably “got too confident with his abilities on how to operate the PWC”.  She also stated that Operator did not know that if you let off of the throttle on a PWC, you no longer had steering, which led to the accident.  Operator had not consumed alcohol or drugs at all during the day.
Tioga                         