RedactedNarrative:  (Operator #1) 
  New Jersey Boating Safety Certification-None 
  August 21, 2020 (Friday): 
  On this date, at approximately 23:35 hours, 10 Comm (New Jersey State Police Marine Unit Communications) received a report that a jet-skier had fallen-into the water and did not resurface at Upper Green Wood Lake, WestMilford,-Passaic County. 
  
  Responding Troopers and I were advised by West Milford Police units that two adults had gone out on Upper Greenwood Lake on a personal watercraft (PWC), when the rear passenger fell off of the PWC and into the water. The passenger went under the water and did not resurface, according to the operator. 
  
  Operator was at the scene with his family where responding Troopers and I spoke with him. Operator appeared extremely distraught and was sobbing stating that he lost his best friend. Operator stated in effect: Me and Victim went out on the jetski, and I wasn't going fast. He just fell off of it. I know he doesn't know how to swim so I went in and tried to grab him, but he went under. I tried to pull him out, but I wasn't able to. I saw him go under.
  
  I spoke to Operator further regarding the moments that led up to Victim falling in the water. Operator stated to the effect that he and Victim were hanging out at a friend's house and they decided to go for a ride on their friend's PWC. Operator was operating and Victim was seated behind him. Operator stated that they did not wear life jackets. 
  
  Operator stated he was not moving at a high rate of speed while underway and began to travel away from the residence and in the area of the Mt. Jug Deli on Warwick Turnpike. This is where Victim had fallen off of the PWC and never resurfaced. 
  
  Operator stated he was unable to grab Victim because he was flailing his arms and panicking. From land, Operator pointed out the area where he believed he last saw Victim. During the investigation, a series of standard field sobriety tests were administered on Operator, with negative results for impairment. 
  
  The vessel owner stated they should have not been out there at night, and they did not have permission to take it, I am very meticulous with my things. My jet-ski has life jackets and all the equipment it needs. 
  
  An inspection of the PWC revealed no damage, besides minor scrapes that were already present from previous usage. The PWC was secured to the dock on the water in the rear of the residence. PFD's were observed on land near the PWC. 
  
  As per Owner, the key to the PWC was secured in the console. 
  I later spoke with Owner's daughter, and her friends. Daughter and her friends stated Operator and Victim arrived at their house between 9:30PM and 10:30PM. I questioned if Operator and Victim appeared to be intoxicated when they arrived, to which they stated no. 
  
  Daughter stated they maybe drank two beers. All three ladies were aware that Operator and Victim were very close friends. Operator had originally gone out on the PWC alone, when he was told not to and that it was a bad idea by Daughter. 
  
  Operator did not listen to us and went out anyway. When Operator returned, Victim went on the PWC with him, when they were both told by Daughter and her friends that it was a bad idea, both not wearing life jackets, They stated that Operator and Victim were not traveling fast when they departed, Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later, Operator returned alone and was extremely emotional, stating he lost his friend Victim. 
  
  Operator kept saying that Victim fell off and he tried to grab him before he went under, but was unable to, Operator kept sobbing and called his mother. Subject1 and Operator went back out on the PWC to look for Victim, but were unable to locate him. They returned back to Daughter's house. Daughter and Subject2 then went out in search of Victim, but were also unable to locate him. They were met by a West Milford Police Unit near the Mt. Jug Deli who advised them to return back to Daughter's house (See attached statements). West Milford Police Department advised that original 911 calls were received by reporting parties who heard the incident from their homes along the shoreline. All three individuals stated they heard a sound of what seemed to be coming from a PWC on the lake. They later heard someone screaming for help. Finally, they heard the sound of the PWC traveling away from the area, possibly back towards the residence. Neither of the parties had actually witnessed the incident occur, as the lake was extremely dark at the time. 
  
  