ON 6/10/09 AT APPROX. 1815HRS V1 WAS OPERATING A RENTED PWC NEAR THE CHANNEL ENTRANCE ON THE NORTH END OF THE MAIN BAY AT CANYON LAKE. SEATED BEHIND OPERATOR WAS HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HIS COUSIN. ALL 3 SAID THEY WERE NEAR THE CHANNEL ENTRANCE WHEN THEY WENT OVER 3 LARGE WAVES. ALL 3 PEOPLE LOST THEIR BALANCE AND FELL OFF THE WATERCRAFT AS IT WAS COMING DOWN OFF OF THE 3RD WAVE. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GET BACK ON THE VESSEL THEY REALIZED IT WAS SETTING DOWN IN THE WATER MORE THAT USUAL. UPON CLOSED EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THE WATERCRAFT HAD AN APPROX. 4 INCH CRACK ON THE BOW BELOW THE WATER LINE. THE HOLE WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE LAYERS OF FIBERGLASS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE OPERATOR WAS NOT VERY COOPERATIVE DURING MY INVESTIGATION. AT ONE POINT HE STATED IT WOULD BE FALSE REPORTING TO FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT BECAUSE HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. BASED ON MY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE THE DAMAGE TO THE HULL WAS CONSISTANT TO STRIKING A BOULDER OR ROCK. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT AFTER HE WAS THROWN OFF THE WATERCRAFT IT STRUCK A ROCK FORMATION NEAT THE MOUTH OF THE CHANNEL AND HE DID NOT FEEL THE IMPACT. THE FACT IS THAT ACCORDING TO HIS BROTHER THE WATERCRAFT DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE TO IT PRIOR TO OPERATOR OPERATING IT. V1 WAS RENTED FROM FULL THROTTLE RENTALS IN MESA, AZ. NOTHING FURTHER.
APACHE JUNCTION               