RedactedNarrative: On March 2, 2015 Subject (age 52) and Operator (age 21) launched a 14’ Sing Fisher vessel equipped with an 8 H.P. Johnson outboard motor in the Ocmulgee River immediately upstream from the Dodge County Landing at approximately 1730 hrs. 
  
  At the time the subjects launched their vessel the river stage at the Abbeville gauge was approximately 11.8’. The subjects intended to travel down river to Half Moon Landing near Abbeville, GA and then return. The subjects traveled approximately 5.48 miles and attempted to negotiate a natural “cut” in the original river channel near a location referred to as “Blue Lake”. 
  
  The subjects encountered objects (tree’s) in the cut channel and failed to negotiate a large tree extending out of the water. The current caused the vessel to go under the tree that extended out of the water at an angle which caused the passenger in the front of the vessel to be forced to the deck of the vessel and as the motor and rear of the vessel passed under the tree the rear of the vessel was forced below the surface of the water causing the vessel to take on water and partially flood. 
  
  According to statements from both vessel occupants the vessel continued to float, but soon collided with more debris in the river channel causing the water inside the vessel to shift and the vessel to capsize. Both occupants held on to the capsized vessel using portions of the vessel seats as floatation. Eventually the vessel went below the surface of the water and the occupants floated, swam, and used trees along the river channel to continue downstream to attempt to find safety. 
  
  The occupants of the vessel climbed out of the water onto woody debris in flooded timber outside of the main river channel approximately .71 miles downstream of the original location of the incident. The following day at approximately 1330 hrs. the subjects were by patrol vessel and transported to the Dodge County boat landing.
  
   During the interviews with the occupants of the vessel it was determined that there were no Personal Floatation Devices (PFD’s) in the vessel. In a subsequent interview with (the vessel owner) on 3/5/2015, he stated that he attempted to secure the sunken vessel to a large vine with a line attached to the bow of the vessel. He stated that he was unsure if the vessel remained attached to the vine he attempted to secure the line to.  
  
  He stated that he had paid $500 for the motor and vessel in 1997. Operator was transported by ambulance to the Dodge County Hospital for treatment due to injury. He remained in the hospital and was released from the hospital on March 5, 2015 at approximately 12:00 hrs.