RedactedNarrative: Vessel – 1989, 20' Hydrostream Pleasure Open Motorboat w/260 hp Mercury Outboard Engine
   
  Owner – Owner1
  Operator/Injured – Operator1
   
  On 05/01/2016, at about 6:30 p.m., this vessel, operated by Operator1, was cruising on the Columbia River / Lake Wallula, near the Edison Street boat launch, located near Kennewick WA in Benton county.
   
  Operator1 reported to Law Enforcement that he had been running up the river into the setting sun when a wakeboard type boat “cut him off”.  He said he hadn't been able to see very well due to the sun being low in the sky.  The wakeboard boat has been trimmed to make a large wake so a wake surfer could ride the wave.  
   
  According to Operator1, he had been traveling at about 30 mph when his boat hit the wakeboard boat's wake throwing his bow up into the air.  The transom hit the second wave and forced the bow down quickly into the water with a tremendous amount of force.  Operator1 was not ejected from his boat.  The vessel was full of water to the water line, and was sitting on the bottom of the river at the transom.
   
  Law Enforcement reported that Operator1's boat had extensive hull damage on the bottom of the vessel just forward of the helm console, and the damage extended from beam to beam in this area.  The port gunnel was cracked laterally in this same vicinity.  The bow gelcoat was cracked and crazed extensively port and starboard from the bow to the helm console.  The damage appeared to correspond with the accident as described by Operator1.
   
  1 Injury / 0 Fatalities
  There was no apparent alcohol involved
  The vessel was reported as a Total Loss with damage estimated at $2,000+
  The Operator was not wearing a PFD
  The Operator did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card – He was cited by Law Enforcement for Failure to possess Boater Education Card.
  