RedactedNarrative: This report summarizes a single vessel fatal boat accident (drowning of 2 subjects) which occurred on 09/19/2020, at approximately 1200 hours. The boating accident occurred at “T” Lake, within Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area, in Knox County. Additionally, “T” Lake is a posted restricted area, which is closed to all public access. 
  
  This boating accident involved a 14'' aluminum Jon boat (vessel # 1) with 3 male occupants who were fishing. The vessel was powered by an electric trolling motor, with two wooden paddles also inside the vessel for backup propulsion. There was no boating safety equipment onboard the vessel. Safety equipment violations included: no PFD x 3, no sounding device, unsecured battery.
  
  Vessel # 1 was drifting south (not under power) on the north/south portion of “T” Lake with three male occupants onboard. The current operator and one passenger voluntarily exited the vessel by jumping from the starboard side of the vessel into the water to swim. Water temperature at the surface was approximately 67 degrees. Both subjects were reported to be hanging onto the boat''s gunwales and swimming for approximately 15 - 20 minutes before one of the swimmers began drifting away from the vessel and struggling to keep his head above the water. The other person in the water swam towards the  location to assist him back to the vessel. The only remaining passenger on the vessel, now the boat operator, attempted to maneuver the boat closer to the swimmers and was extending a wooden boat paddle towards them from the bow of the boat. The swimmers were unable to reach the paddle extended from the bow of the vessel. Once Victim1 was within reach of Victim2 both subjects disappeared underwater and did not resurface. 
  
  After both swimmers failed to resurface Remaining occupant operated the vessel to shore by use of the trolling motor (discharged battery) and the wooden paddle. Once on shore Remaining occupant located an area with cellular phone service and called 911. Remaining occupant fled from the scene and was later located by Law Enforcement in Toulon, IL. After being brought back to the scene Remaining occupant was processed for OUI watercraft by CPO and submitted a breath sample disclosing a BAC of .067. *See IDNR Field Report #2020-1-437-014BU, for Boating OUI arrest of Remaining occupant.
  
  On 09/19/2020, at approximately 6:00pm, CPO and I, CPO, located the two drowning victims using side scan sonar and marked their locations for recovery. Emergency personnel from multiple agencies assisted in the recovery and transfer of the victims to the Knox County Coroner. 
  
  Alcohol consumption and cool water temperature were contributing factors to the drownings. Autopsy reports for both list cause of death as drowning. Toxicology reports for victim1 disclosed a BAC of .309g/100 ml and a Delta-9 THC of .95ng/ml. Toxicology report for victim2 disclosed a BAC of .413g/100ml. See attachments section for Autopsy and Toxicology reports.
   
  
  