On November 16th at approximately 1700, Operator 1was operating a duck hunting blind boat towards the Babcock boat ramp. The propeller of the boat became clogged with corn stalks, so Operator 1stopped the vessel and cleaned the debris from the prop. When he re-started the motor and got underway, a wave came over the bow of the boat where Passenger 1 was seated. Passenger 1 moved to the stern of the vessel in an attempt to raise the bow above the incoming waves. Waves continued to come over the bow, causing the boat to list and capsize. Two occupants climbed on top of the overturned vessel, while the other two (Passenger 2 and Operator 1) attempted to swim to shore. After approximately thirty minutes, another duck hunter, Good Samaritan, was motoring towards the ramp when he heard yelling. Good Samaritan saw two people in the water and proceeded to pull them inside his vessel. He then rescued the other two from the top of the capsized vessel. Operator 1and Passenger 2 were taken to University of Iowa Hospital and were treated and released.
North Liberty                 