On Saturday (05/01/10) NRO received a message from Perry State Park Ranger Campbell on his office phone regarding a boating accident that occurred the previous Thursday (4/29/10)evening at Perry Lake.  NRO was not on duty at said time but returned Ranger phone call and was further advised that the owner/operator of said vessel was staying at one of the cabins in the State Park and was intending to leave the following day.  NRO advised that he would meet with her the following morning to obtain the information regarding said incident.  During the morning hours of 5/2/10, after obtaining the information from Ranger, NRO attempted to locate   to speak with himregarding the incident and to inspect his vessel for damages.  NRO located the remaining party that had stayed with him in the cabin and was advised by said party that Operator had returned home Saturday evening, with his vessel, and was no longer in the area.  On Monday (5/3/10) NRO spoke with Operator on the phone and was advised that his vessel was currently located at the marina on El dorado reservoir.  After asking Operator to describe what happened, Operator stated the following:

He and his companion had been fishing on the Delaware arm of Perry Lake when a bad storm came in around dusk.  After seeing that the strom was upon them, they decided to head back to the cabins in the State Park.  As they were up on plane, traveling approximately 30 mph into the waves, they pierced a large swell; at said time they were traveling south, just east of the Delaware area point.  As they pierced the swell, it forced the bow of his vessel to abruptly rise and his stern to sink below the waterline, thereafter, swamping his vessel and stalling the motor.  After taking on water, he and occupant put on their personal floatation devices and drifted as the wind blew them towards the southeast point in the Delaware area of Perry State Park.  Operator reportedly attempteed to, but was unable to start his m otor due to the amount of water it had taken on.  They drifted for approximately 40 minutes before reaching the shore and thereafter, abandoned his vessel and waded in the water until reaching land.  They built fires to stay warm abnd awaited rescue after reaching the shore; neigher reportedly had a cellular phone at said time.

On friday (4/30/10) at approximately 0830 hrs, Operator's father reportedly located them.  After locating them, they reportedly climbed into his vessel and returned to shore.  At an undetermined time later, they returned to the abandoned vessel and towed it back to the dock.  Based on Operator's description, NRO believes that his vessel sustained damage for an extended amount of tiem while it was being forced up and against the rocky shore.  On 5/5/10, NRO received an email from NRO containing what appeared to be photos of Operator's vessel.  See phot log.  NRO believes said photos were taken from one of the repair persons at the marina.

Meriden                       