Boat owner/operator stated that he was following another boat from the public boat ramp to the dam area of Gilmer Lake when his boat struck an underwater stump.  He stopped to check his boat but could not find anything wrong and continued driving until he reached his destination near the dam and started fishing.  Approximately 15 minutes later, Operator decided to move to another fishing location when he noticed water in the boat.  Operator then started his engine to return to the boat ramp.  As he began to increase speed, the bow went straight up from the weight of the water onboard.  The boat soon began to sink.  Operator began blowing his air horn and his friend came back to pick him up and took him back to the ramp.  

Operator contacted Upshur County Sheriff's Office.  Upshur County Deputy arrived and contacted a friend already on the lake.  Together, they located the capsized boat and tied a rope to it and pulled it back to the boat ramp.  Operator later contacted Overstreet Wrecker Service who assisted in getting the boat out of the lake and onto the trailer.

I was on boat patrol at Lake Gladewater at the time of the accident.  I was contacted by Upshur County dispatch and later coresponded with Deputy while he was still on-scene.  I asked Deputy if he noticed or suspected any foul play, alcohol, wreckless or careless operation, or any other factors that might have contributed to the accident.  He stated "no."  Deputy stated that it involved only a single boat, single driver, and no injuries.  He said that everything was under control and that the operator simply hit an underwater stump a few feet outside the boat lane.  I asked him to collect the operator and boat information and that I would contact both him and the operator to complete a boat accident report.

On Tuesday, June 12 at approximately 9 a.m. I contacted Operator.  He reiterated that he hit an underwater stump just outside the boat lane.  He also said that other boats had hit the same stump.  He said that he had punched a hole(s) in the bottom of his boat/fiberglass and would be getting repair bids this week at Tiny's Fiberglass.  He said the boat might be totaled.  I advised that I would be contacting him for more information as needed.

On Monday, June 25, I followed up with Operator.  He stated that he believed his boat would be a total loss, but gave me a figure of $4,303 in repair damages and $2,500 loss to contents (trolling motor, depth finder, tackle, etc.) some of which he said was still at the bottom of the lake.  He stated that he wanted to contact authorities about marking underwater stumps because the one he struck was in or near the boating channel.

Gilmer                        