On 4-12-09 at approx. 6:57 PM, I was advised of a boating accident at Cedar Gap Park on Stillhouse Hollow Lake by the Bell County Sheriff's Office. I responded to the Cedar Gap boat ramp in reference to the boating accident. This is a Corps of Engineers park/boat ramp located off FM 3481 near the long bridge just South of Harker Heights.  It was reported that a victim had fallen out of the boat and had been struck by the prop around the ankle area.

Upon arrival, I made contact with Bell County Deputies and with the operator of the boat at the time, subject 1.  He advised that he had been out on the boat with the victim, subject 2. subject 2 had been operating the boat earlier and then switched to let subject 1 operate it for a while.

While they were traveling along, subject 1 made a sharp turn with the boat that ended up throwing subject 2 out and over the side.  When this happened, subject 1 turned back the opposite direction to go back and pick him up, subsequently striking him with the prop. subject 2 suffered a large laceration to his left leg around the ankle which was bleeding severely.subject 1 called 911 and transported subject 2 back to the boat ramp where Harker Heights Fire Dept/EMS attended to him.  subject 2 was transported shortly afterwards to Scott & White in Temple for treatment.  The boat was a 2005 Skeeter bass boat bearing TX 1295 KF.  The boat was later loaded/trailered and removed from the park by family members. I inspected the vessel and found that it was equipped with all the mandatory safety equipment and concluded  that alcohol was not onboard nor was it a contributing factor in this incident.
Harker Heights                