RedactedNarrative: On Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 at approximately 1540 hours, I Corporal (Cpl.) with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division was contacted by Lieutenant to respond to a vessel incident on Lake Oliver in Muscogee County.  While en route to Lake Oliver, I spoke with Sergeant (Sgt.) by phone and he said the vessel incident occurred at the Lake Oliver Marina in Columbus.  Sgt. said the vessel involved in the incident was occupied by 3 adults and 4 children.  He said the vessel ran aground and struck the picnic shelter, which is connected to the Lake Oliver Marina Building.  Sgt. said 3 of the children and 1 of the adults had been ejected out of the vessel and transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus with injuries.  Sgt. went to the Piedmont Hospital and spoke with the owner/operator of the vessel.  Operator told Sgt. the vessel was occupied with his 2 adult daughters. In addition to his daughters he said his 4 grand children were also in the vessel.  I asked Sgt. to find out where everyone was located in the vessel just prior to the incident. 
  
  Prior to my arrival at approximately 1800 hours, a thunderstorm came through the area and dumped a large amount of rain at the incident location.  When I arrived, I met with Game Warden.  He told me he had spoken to some witnesses and obtained witness statements.  The vessel was a 2003 Sea Ray. From the tip of the bow the vessel traveled inland approximately 43.5 feet.  When the vessel hit the shoreline, it traveled up a steep embankment and went under the picnic shelter.  As the vessel traveled up the embankment, the bow of the vessel struck the edge of the tin roof covering the shelter. From the ground to the bend in the tin was approximately 102 inches.  After striking the tin roof the vessel continued under the shelter and collided with a 6” X 6” metal pole, which supports the shelter. The location of the pole the vessel struck was on the far side of the shelter from the shoreline.  The vessel struck the corner pole approximately 5 feet from the ground on the starboard side of the bow.  After making impact with the pole, the starboard side of the bow broke and the vessel continued forward for approximately 4 feet.  As the vessel continued forward the starboard side of the bow started canting towards the ground.  The heads of the screws holding the rub rail on caused the gouges in the pole as the vessel traveled forward.  The scratches on the keel of the vessel were caused from traveling over the large granite rocks as it traveled up the embankment. (See vessel diagram and photographs). 
  
  While Sgt. was still at the hospital, I asked him if Operator would sign a consent to search form. After Operator signed a consent to search form, I searched the vessel for any evidence that may have caused the incident.  The throttle lever was located at approximately full throttle.  After taking pictures of the position of the throttle lever, I shifted it back and forth and the throttle linkage appeared to be functioning correctly.  The steering of the vessel could not be tested due to the outdrive sitting on the concrete slab under the shelter.  No alcohol or drugs were located in the vessel. 
  
  When Sgt. returned to the marina, he gave me a seating chart where everyone was seated in the vessel during the incident according to Operator and subject1.  Victim1 was seated at the bow of the vessel. Victim2 was seated behind her on the portside bow of the vessel.  Victim3 was seated behind Victim2 on the portside of the bow.  Subject4 was seated on the starboard side of the bow just across from Victim2 and Victim3.  All 4 occupants seated in the bow portion of the vessel were ejected out of the vessel.  Victim1, Victim2 and Victim3 were thrown forward into the parking lot area of the marina. Subject 4 was thrown out of the vessel and landed on a concrete picnic table located under the shelter.  Victim 1 sustained superficial abrasions to both legs below the knee and a dislocation of her big toe on the left foot.
  
  Victim2 sustained small hemorrhagic contusion in the left temporal cortex of her brain and a fracture of her skull in the right and left frontal bones.  She also had superficial abrasions to her right elbow, left elbow, and left leg.  
  
  Victim 3 sustained a complex fracture of her right femur.  She had abrasions and contusions to her face, left thigh, and left foot.  Subject 4 was examined for head pain and left leg pain, but received no further medical attention.
  
  It is inconclusive why the operator went almost full speed under the picnic shelter.  Operator and his two daughters and four grandchildren were returning to the marina.  As he approached the idle speed/no wake zone buoy as he passed out possibly due to a migraine.  The investigator believes his hand was on the throttle causing the throttle to go forward, increasing the vessel’s speed .  Four were ejected into the water after the crash.