On September 3, 2011 at approximately 5:45 PM I received a phone message from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Dispatch Center in Helena Montana notifying me of a boat accident on Willow Creek Reservoir near Augusta Montana. 
 I called the dispatch center and learned that a boat ran over 4 people on rafts and that there were injuries.  I responded to the reservoir from Highway 287 mile marker eleven. 
 When I arrived on scene I was greeted by Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Deputy who had been on scene assisting emergency responses personnel and talking with witnesses and victims.  I took several photographs of the scene, including the vessels involved. 
 I then contacted the owner of the vessel that allegedly ran over the victims in the rubber rafts.   I collected the names, addresses and phone numbers of each person in each vessel involved with the boating accident.  I then took a taped statement from the driver of the suspect vessel and all occupants.  
I identified the driver, I read him his Miranda warnings and he agreed to speak with me concerning the accident.  He explained the following:  
1.  He was driving the boat pulling a knee boarder.
  2.  They were in middle of the lake heading east.
  3.  Occupant  riding on the bow of the boat yelled at Operator but it was too late.
  4.   When Operator turned around to look forward he saw the rubber rafts and swerved to avoid them.
  5.  He was not sure which way he turned to avoid the collision.
  6.  He knew he hit the raft.  7.  He stopped the boat and tried to help the victims now in the water.  8.  They got the victims to shore.  9.   Operator stated that he was not drinking and that his passengers had no alcohol.
  10.  Another boat came out and got the other rafts with a man in boy in it.  11.   They were on the water for about 20 minutes boating and never saw the rafts.
I identified the spotter as he agreed to speak with me concerning the accident.  He explained the following:
  1.  Observer identified himself as the spotter and was sitting on bow of the boat because of his weight.  2.  He was watching knee boarder as he was being towed by Operator.  3.  Kneeboarder waved at Observer and he immediately yelled for Operator to turn.  4.  Operator was looking back at Kneeboarder too.  5.  Operator then swerved left to avoid the rafts right in front of them.  6.  Observer stated he heard the thunk after hitting the girls.
  7.  Observer checked to see if everyone was OK.  8.  Observer jumped into the water.  9.  Both girls climbed into the boat on their own.
  10.  Observer and the gentlemen in the other raft cut the rubber raft and line away from the boat prop.  11.  Observer told Operator to take the girls in to shore and he waited until another boat towed the rafts with him into shore.  12.  Observer stated that they hit the rafts with the driver side of their boat.
I identified the knee border as he agreed to speak with me concerning the accident.  He explained the following:  1.  He confirmed that he was being towed by Operator.  2.  He tried to motion to Operator warning him of the rafts.  3.   After the accident he paddled up to the boat.  4.  He made sure everyone was accounted for.  5.  Helped the girl that was screaming.  6.  Confirmed that both girls got in the boat.  7.  Helped Operator get them back to shore.
I then issued Operator and citation for reckless boating.  Warden Captain arrived on scene and I instructed him to confiscate the raft that was torn up by the prop.  I then drove to another camp site and identified good sam as the second boater that towed the rafts in to shore after the accident.

Augusta                       