RedactedNarrative: DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION/INCIDENT:     
      
  I CORPORAL WAS WORKING AS AN INDIANA CONSERVATION OFFICER IN WABASH COUNTY. I WAS NOTIFIED OF A BOAT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON SALAMONIE LAKE IN WABASH COUNTY. THE OPERATOR OF THE BOAT CALLED ME DIRECT AND CLAIMED HIS BOAT SUNK BUT HE MANAGED TO SWIM TO SHORE AND WAS NOW AT HIS VEHICLE AT DORA BOAT RAMP. I HAD HIM DRIVE HOME SINCE HE DID NOT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WARM UP WITH A WARM SHOWER AND CHANGE OF CLOTHES. I TOLD HIM AFTER THAT I WOULD MEET WITH HIM TO GO BACK AND TRY AND MARK WHERE HIS BOAT WENT DOWN.    
      
  AFTER MEETING WITH BOAT OWNER, WE WENT TO THE DORA BOAT RAMP TO LAUNCH MY PATROL BOAT SO WE COULD RETURN TO THE SCENE. Operator EXPLAINED TO BE THAT HE WAS TESTING OUT HIS 14' ALUMINUM FLAT BOTTOM JOHN BOAT WITH A MUD MOTOR. He EXPLAINED HE WAS ADJUSTING THE TRIM TABS ON THE MOTOR WHEN THE PROP CAME OUT OF THE WATER. WHEN THE PROP SUBMERGED AGAIN IT TRUSTED FORWARD CAUSING him TO LOSE HIS BALANCE IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT. WHEN he LOST HIS BALANCE, HE FELL TO THE REAR OF THE BOAT GRABBING THE MOTOR AND THE GUNWALE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BOAT STARTED TO TAKE ON WATER OVER THE STERN. Operator TOLD ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING, AND HE WAS NOT WEARING HIS SAFETY kill switch CUT OUT LANYARD. THIS CAUSED THE BOAT TO CONTINUE TO RUN AND PROPEL IN A CIRCLE. Operator WAS STILL SINKING WITH THE BOAT AND PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE WATER. He CONTINUED TO KEEP HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE SPINNING PROP AND PUSHED OFF FROM THE BOAT AS IT CONTINUED TO SINK. THE MOTOR OF THE BOAT SHUT OFF WHEN IT WHEN BENEATH THE SURFACE. Operator WAS NOT WEARING A LIFE JACKET IN THE 43* WATER AND HAD A GOOD DISTANCE TO SWIM. Operator LOOKED TO SHORE BOTH WAYS AND DETERMINED ONE WAY HAD A ROCK WALL THAT WOULD BE IMPASSABLE. His LIFE JACKET WAS FLOATING NEARBY BUT WAS DRIFTING AWAY TOO FAST TO GRAB IT IN THE WIND. Operator MADE THE DECISION TO SWIM TO SHORE AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT. He CLAIMED THAT HIS HANDS AND FEET DID NOT HAVE MUCH FEELING IN THEM AFTER MAKING IT TO SHORE AND HIS PHONE WAS MALFUNCTIONING WITH A LOW BATTERY. FROM HERE Operator HAD TO WALK A GREAT DISTANCE BACK TO THE NEAREST BOAT RAMP WHERE HE WAS PARKED. He LOOKED AROUND TO FIND NO OTHER PERSON DURING OR AFTER THE INCIDENT. Operator SAID WHEN HE MADE IT BACK TO HIS VEHICLE, HE CALLED ME FOR HELP.    
    
  I NOTIFIED THE ICO DIVE TEAM TO COORDINATE WITH MY GPS POINT, SONAR, AND DIVERS TO PLAN A DIVE LATER TO RECOVER THE BOAT AND MOTOR.  