RedactedNarrative: Prelude:
  On september 2, 2018 while on boat patrol on patoka reservoir with master officer tony mann, hoosier hills marina contacted us in reference to a boat sinking at the lick fork boat ramp.  When we arrived on scene, the boat was fully submerged under the water line with only the very front bow sticking above water. At somepoint while traveling across the water, they struck a submerged object which dislodged their boat's plug causing the vessel to sink.
  At 1720pm est, we arrived at the boat ramp to see a silver ranger bass boat tied to the dock and several gentlemen lifting up on the starboard dock line attempting to keep the transom from sinking. Only the boat's bow was above the waterline.  A male subject was swimming in the water near the transom. The entire dock system was being pulled down by the boat.  Contents were floating on the surface of the water from the watercraft; lifejackets, coats, fishing poles,etc.
  The subject in the water was not the boat's owner but stated he put two plugs in the boat and that it was sinking because it did not have a plug in.
  Subject stated they just purchased the boat and this was their maiden voyage.  She did not have a dated bill of sale to prove her purchase date or any paperwork stating she owned the vessel. 
  
  I asked subject4 to explain what he thought happened and he stated, they launched the 1989 silver ranger model 363 v bass boat from fisherman's boat ramp at patoka reservoir at around noon.
  
  Subject4 explained they went south into the south lick fork area of patoka reservoir into the stump fields and were fishing for approximately an hour, when they noticed water at their feet.
  
  Subject4 stated he was able to start up the v6 evinrude intruder 150 horsepower outboard motor and get the boat up on plane, going north on the reservoir towards the lick fork area of the water intake and pushed the water out of the boat.
  
  Subject4 stated when they noticed the water was gone, they stopped and went back to fishing in the area of the water intake; however, at this time a large amount of water was coming in, or rather settled forward after the boat came off plane and the watercraft started to sink below the waterline.  Subject thought water came over the corner of the transom in back.
  
  Subject4 stated he attempted several times to re-start the outboard engine but it would not start, so he dropped the bow mounted trolling motor, when a pontoon boat heard their cry for help and came to their aid.
  
  Subject stated the pontoon boat quickly began to tow them towards the lick fork boat ramp several hundred yards away.  When they made it to the boat ramp safely, the pontoon boat took subject4 over to the fisherman's boat ramp to retrieve his truck and trailer.
  
  I asked subject4 if he remembered putting the plug in the watercraft and he stated he did.  When i asked how much boating experience he had, he stated some.  I asked subject4 if he remembers hitting or bumping something.  Subject4 remembers hitting something while navigating the stump field shortly afterwards the boat began to fill up with water.
  
  Once the boat was on the trailer, i pulled the plug out in the middle fitting and the plug to the right of it and drained the rest of the water in the boat's bilge area.  The rear transom area of the ranger contained three deep cycle marine batteries and an onboard battery charger; all of which were under water.
  
  I did not note any other damage to the vessel. Subject did not have insurance on the watercraft.
  
  Closed - boat accident report completed
  