RedactedNarrative: On 7/11/15 Operator1 was testing a newly purchased vessel in the Outside Rim Canal of Lake Okeechobee in Buckhead Ridge. Even after knowing that the vessel was having issues with throttle and steering, Operator1 chose to take one last test run in the canal near the Buckhead Ridge Fire Department after dropping his two passengers off on shore. He states that the throttle stuck and the vessel collided with a seawall across the canal. The vessel overturned and sunk on the starboard side, resting half submerged. No injuries beyond first aide reported. Property damage and vessel damage combined to an estimated total of $2000. 
  
  Subjects state that Operator1 navigated the vessel West, along the outside rim canal toward Buckhead Ridge Locks. Operator1 then drove the vessel through canals that traverse the neighborhoods in Buckhead Ridge, commonly referred to as the "Finger Canals". The two passengers stated that the vessel was not steering correctly and that Operator1 was having difficulty operating in a safe manner. The subjects state that while Operator1 was operating the vessel, he struck a seawall with the bow of the vessel. Both subjects advise that there were no injuries or damage and continued on their way to back to the fire department where they had launched. 
  
  Back at the Fire Department, both subjects wanted to get off the vessel because Operator1 was continuing to have trouble operating the vessel in a safe manner. On shore they proceeded to back the trailer into the water to recover the vessel. Both independent accounts state that Operator1 turned the vessel South and headed back down the canal to make one last run. Operator1 accelerated heading North. Subject1 stated that he did not see Operator1 operating the vessel at this point because he was backing the trailer into the water, but that he heard the engine rev up to a high RPM. Subject2 observed Operator1 make his final run North. He stated that the vessel was moving at a "high speed". Operator1 did not let off the throttle until he was at the boat ramp, then coasted out of control into the sea wall on the other side of the canal. The vessel overturned and came to a rest on it's starboard side. Approximately half of the vessel remained out of the water. Subject2 observed Operator1 swimming away from the overturned vessel and back to the boat ramp. 
  
  The subject state that they recruited several friends in an attempt to remove the vessel from the water, but were unable to do so. Subject1 advised that they wanted to get the vessel out of the water before any law enforcement arrived. 
  
  After interviewing Subject1 and Subject2, the operator was identified. Glades County Deputies went to Operator1's house to have him return to the scene. Operator1 was initially uncooperative. Glades County Deputies advised that Operator1 was "hiding" in his house. 
  
  Operator1 was eventually returned to the scene of the incident by Glades County Sheriff's Deputies on July 12th, 2015 at approximately 0200 hrs. Operator1 was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, glassy eyes, and smelled strongly of alcohol. Due to the fact that that Operator1 left the scene of the accident and was not identified as the operator of the vessel for several hours, no boating under the influence investigation was performed. It should also be noted that Operator1 was on probation at this time.