RedactedNarrative: On 04/25/14, at approximately 2000 hours, I CPO was contacted by district 3 Sgt. about a boat accident that occurred by the South boat launch on Braidwood lake. Sgt. informed me he was contacted by a site worker for Mazonia Braidwood State Wildlife area that a small watercraft had sunk to the east of the south boat launch at Braidwood lake. Sgt. informed me Worker had talked to the operator of the watercraft. I contacted Worker at approximately 2015 hours and asked him if the operator was still at the boat launch. Worker informed me Operator had already left. Worker informed me that he was not injured and he was able to get contact information. I asked Worker if he had witnessed the accident and he informed me he saw some of the accident. Worker informed me he was parked at the south boat launch at approximately 1820 and witnessed a small white boat with a red stripe (later identified as a 14'' Imperial watercraft) about 50 yards to the east of the boat launch low in the water struggling to move. Worker informed me the lake was really choppy with about 6" to 1'' high waves due to the highwinds that day with the wind coming from the Northwest. Worker informed me he saw Operator jump from the boat as it went down stern first. Worker said he yelled at Operator to swim to shore. I asked Worker if Operator was injured and he said no. According to Worker Operator was just shaken up but was fine and he did not request medical attention. Worker informed me that the watercraft bow was sticking out the water about 50 yards to the east of the boat launch. 
  
  I contacted Operator at approximately 2030 hours and asked him if he was alright. He said he was fine and had no injuries. I asked Operator what time he came out to Braidwood lake and if he had anyone else on the boat. Operator informed me he and his brother came out to Braidwood Lake at 0700 in the morning and fished all day and came back to the South Boat Launch at approximately 1800 hours. At that time Operator informed me he tied up his watercraft to the inside of the east dock of the boat launch and dropped off Brother at the dock. Operator then went and backed up his boat trailer to trailer the boat. Operator informed me the stern of the boat was facing out towards the lake and the waves were crashing into the stern of his watercraft and the waves were pretty rough and about 6" to 1'' in height. I asked Operator how long his boat was sitting at the dock and he said only a few minutes. Operator informed me when he got back into the boat he started to backup from the dock and that is when he saw that there was some water in the back of his boat that wasn''t there before. Operator said when he was backing the watercraft up the waves kept crashing into the stern of the boat and more and more water was coming in. Operator informed me once he cleared the dock he turned his boat to the east bow facing east to turn around to go back to the dock. Operator then noticed the stern of the boat was about under water and he pushed the throttle all the way down but the engine had stopped. Operator informed me he tried to start the engine but it would not turn over. Operator then informed me he jumped from the boat and swam to shore. I asked Operator if he had any mechanical trouble with his watercraft and he said no. I asked Operator where his brother was during this and he said he was on the dock yelling at him to swim to shore. I was unable to contact Operator''s brother for any statements. 
  
  On 04/26/14, at approximately 0700 hours I arrived at the south launch and saw a watercraft protruding out of the water east of the launch. I used my laser range finder and measured from the bank to the watercraft directly to the Northeast of the launch and the measurement was 44 yards from the bank.