RedactedNarrative: On 08/22/2020 at approximately 18:00, myself and senior officer were dispatched to black bear access area on lake james in reference to a boat incident that was just reported to mcdowell county 911.  Upon  arrival to black bear access area, we assisted mcdowell county ems with off loading the victim from a pontoon boat she was aboard into an ambulance.  
  
  The victim was transported to asheville for immediate surgery due to  a severe laceration to her right thigh from a propeller strike.  Once the victim was secure and stable, myself, senior officer and master officer conducted interviews, took notes, photographs and investigated all elements of the scene. 
  
  Operator stated he had been underway while operating his 2004 harris sunliner 220 approximately one half mile from black bear access area  in the vicinity of big island and new manna church camp.  Operator stated he and his daughter ka were sitting in the boat drifting while the victim was swimming behind the vessel with 3 other people.  
  
  Operator stated that as his wife was boarding the vessel from the rear, then the  motor suddenly cut off.  This was due to the fact that the victim had just caught her right leg in the moving propeller of the vessel.  One of the swimmers assisted the victim by turning the propeller to release the victim's leg.  All parties involved helped load her into the vessel.  Operator immediately called 911.  First aid was administered and operator started his vessel and drove to black bear access area to meet ems.
  
  While interviewing operator at black bear access area, i observed clues that his mental and physical faculties were appreciably impaired.   I performed sfsts and made the decision to arrest operator and charge him with bwi.  I transported him to mcdowell county jail where he submitted to a  breath test and was released by the magistrate. 
   
  In the following week to come, i interviewed operator and reviewed all witness statements.  Operator believed he had his engine in neutral at the time of the incident.  However, the day of the incident officer determined the propeller did not move while the throttle was in the neutral position.  It seems at the time of the incident, the boat motor was engaged and not in a neutral position.  There were no conflicting statements to believe this was not the case.  Therefore, impairment possibly contributed to the motor being engaged which led to the propeller strike that injured his wife.
  
  
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