ON SUNDAY APRIL 12, 2009 OPERATOR AND occupant WERE FISHING ON THE ETOWAH RIVER APPROXIMATELY 0.37 MILES DOWN RIVER FROM DIXON LANDING OFF HWY. 1 LOOP IN ROME.  OPERATOR STATED THAT HE WAS OPERATING THE TILLER STEER VESSEL AND OCCUPANT WAS SEATED AT THE BOW.  AS THEY TRAVELED DOWN STREAM, OCCUPANT THREW OUT AN ANCHOR FROM THE BOW.  THE ANCHOR CAUGHT ON THE BOTTOM CAUSING THE VESSEL TO ROTATE CLOCKWISE.  AS THE VESSEL ROTATED 190 DEGREES, OPERATOR THREW OUT HIS ANCHOR FROM THE STERN OF THE VESSEL.  THE ANCHOR IN THE FRONT BROKE LOOSE AND THE VESSEL CONTINUED STERN FIRST DOWN RIVER.  THE STERN ANCHOR ALSO BROKE LOOSE As THE VESSEL TRAVELED DOWN RIVER AND BEGAN TO ROTATE CLOCKWISE.  AS THE VESSEL ROTATED CLOCKWISE, THE NEAR ANCHOR CAUGHT ON THE BOTTOM BRINGING THE VESSEL TO A SUDDEN STOP.  THE PORT SIDE CORNER AT THE STERN WENT UNDER WATER AND THE VESSEL BEGAN TO FLOOD.  OPERATOR STATED THAT WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE VESSEL WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED WITH WATER.  OCCUPANT STOOD UP IN THE FRONT OF THE VESSEL AND THE VESSEL THEN CAPSIZED, EJECTING BOTH OCCUPANTS.  OPERATOR AND OCCUPANT WERE ABLE TO STAND UP IN THE EXTREMELY RAPID CURRENT.  THEY THEN DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT TO THE BANK. DURING THE ATTEMPT, OCCUPANT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT AND DROWNED.  OPERATOR GOT TO THE BANK AND WAS RESCUED.
ROME                          