On June 28, 2013, at approximately 18:40MST Nation Park Service broad cast an emergency message over the radio about a possible fatal boat accident involving a child. NPS dispatch explained that the involved party was en route from buoy 104. I responded to the main boat launch ramp in Bullfrog to meet up with the reporting party. 

We arrived at their camp and began the investigation on what took place. A witness, who was sitting next to Victim, explained to me what happen. She said that Victim was sitting in the bow of the boat on the port side when the boat hit a wave. The wave bounced Victim off of the seat and into the water off of the front port side. The boat then ran Victim over. She said that Victim was wearing his life-jacket at the time of the accident. 

I then spoke with subject2, who was sitting along the back bench and explained to me more details on what took place. Subject2 said that her dad was operating the boat while pulling a tuber. Subject2 said that Operator was looking backwards at the tuber when they all heard subject3 scream that Victim fell overboard. Operator immediately stopped the boat and found Victim in the water by the tube. Operator jumped in the water and brought Victim to the boat where he attempted CPR. Due to Victim's injuries CPR was stopped. Subject2 went on to explain that once Victim was in the boat they took off down lake towards Bullfrog. I questioned Subject2 about the location of the accident. She said that they were on the far side of the main channel just north of Knowles Canyon. I then had Officer who arrived during my interviews to let dispatch know that this accident took place in Garfield County.  

Once back in Bullfrog I met up with Operator. I had him fill out a witness statement and explained what took place. He said that he was pulling a tuber at approximately 15-20mph when the boat hit a large wave. Operator then heard everyone screaming and stopped the boat. It was then that he was informed of what just happen. He said that he was pulling the tuber in the same location and that no other boat was around at the time of the accident. Operator said that he knew Victim had passed away when he brought him back on board the vessel. 

Looking over the witness statements and listen to Subject2s interview I have come to a conclusion on what took place. Operator was driving his boat down lake (south) when the boat hit a large wave. When the boat hit the wave Victim was ejected out of the boat off the front port side. Due to Victim's injuries he landed with his head facing the back of the boat. At that time Victim was ran over by the boat and was struck by the prop. The prop caused the fatal injuries. Victim was wearing his life-jacket at the time of the accident and showed prop marks.
Bullfrog