RedactedNarrative: Initial Call:
  At approximately 16:00 on Friday, June 14, 2019 on HWY 276 neat town of Ticaboo, UT, I (Ranger) was notified by my supervisor, Ranger, and NPS dispatch of a fatal boat accident that had occurred on Lake Powell. I immediately activated my emergency equipment in my patrol vehicle (lights and siren) and responded to the Bullfrog Government Docks. I transferred to my patrol vessel and was passing Halls Crossing Buoy Field going up lake to Buoy 97 (accident scene), when Ranger (NPS) notified me that alcohol was involved in the accident and that this was "possible DUI". NPS Law Enforcement Rangers had identified the driver. I turned my patrol vessel around and returned to the Bullfrog Government docks to investigate alcohol being involved in the accident and to interview the driver. 
  
  A total of eight occupants were on the vessel and one was reported deceased, the seven other passengers (including the driver) involved in the vessel accident returned back to Bullfrog aboard an NPS vessel. All involved individuals were transported to the National Park Service District Ranger Office, located in Bullfrog by the NPS. The vessel was identified as a 2000 Malibu Sunsetter. Operator is also the registered owner of the vessel. The NPS secured the scene, taking pictures, documenting and logging evidence (impound inventory). 
  
  Accident Investigation:
  Witnesses on board stated that they arrived at Lake Powell Thursday (6.13.19) afternoon, and that it was a senior high graduation trip for Subject1. Most individuals knew each other and were high school friends, with some being "friends of friends". Witnesses state prior to the accident they were just "cruising on the lake, listening to music". It was stated that they had been out on the lake for approximately 3 hours before the accident occurred. The accident occurred at about 15:30.
  
  Directly prior to the accident, one witness (Subject2) stated that we "needed to stop, but didn't". In addition, it was stated that Victim was standing up in the vessel at the time of the accident. Subject3 stated to me during his interview, that there were "no screams, no warning - then boom, flew over the boat. He also stated to me that he "heard the boat revving up". 
  
  Another passenger on board Subject1 stated, "holy cow, we are hauling" and that they "hit wake first", and then "ended on rock". The vessel struck the rocks (across from Buoy 97) in the main channel (on the port side). The impact of the crash caused several passengers on the vessel to get ejected (Victim, Subject2, and Subject3). 
  
  Witnesses further stated that they observed Victim under the boat. In her written statement, Subject1 stated that " we took a sharp turn and Victim was standing up when launched onto the rock and two others and Victim got ejected and Victim was hit and rolled over". 
  
  Subject4 who was onboard when the accident occurred, stated "Big rock was in front of us, I don't know why he couldn't see it". From the scene investigation and analysis, the vessel hit the shoreline (rocks) of the main channel. In his statements made to me, Operator said he, was coming through the canyon, cut to the left to avoid them, to slow down, on the rocks. Was passing another boat, I cut the brakes. I was going too fast". These statements were referring to Operator'S actions in the vessel as the operator when the accident occurred.
  
  When the vessel came to rest, approx. 100 ft. from the initial point of impact - Victim was observed just directly above the tip of the bow of the vessel. Subject2 directly stated to me that the boat went "up the rocks, came down - boat ran back over crushes her (Victim). Both witnesses and responding NPS rangers stated that she was observed face down, belly down on the rocks, her cheek down on the rocks. Classic Air Medical was launched by the NPS. Her pulse was checked by responding NPS personnel and none was found, it was stated that she had "obvious fatal injuries". Several witnesses state that CPR was attempted, however no evidence of that was found on scene. 
  
  The point of impact on the vessel was directly followed by 3 prop strikes, indicated significant speed at time of impact into the rock. The speed estimations from the different passengers on board varied, with Operator estimating his speed to be approx. 25-30 mph at the time of the accident. While other witnesses interviewed the next day (Saturday 6.15.19) stated there were going "pretty fast" 35-40 mph. In addition, Operator stated that he was going too fast to stop. OPERATOR said further that he "narrow canyon, hit shore, she was on shore".
  
  In the course of my investigation, it was determined that vessel was on plane at the time of the accident. This would explain the significant damage to the hull of the boat, and the wide speed sand and fiberglass spray located at the accident scene (approx. 30 ft radius). Based off the impact and witness statements, I believe that the vessel was traveling closer to 35-40 mph at the time of the accident. The vessel was traveling north, on the port side of the main channel. The vessel made a port (left) turn to avoid another vessel that was towing a tube, and the starboard side hits the shore (consistent with significant damage found on the starboard side of the vessel, including starboard hull drag marks found on the rocks at the scene). The length of the initial impact point of the vessel to the final resting point was approx. 100 ft. The stern end of the vessel left the ground (rock), and the bow tilts down (causing some of the significant scrapes on the hull bottom of the vessel). This was a stern drive vessel, and significant damage occurred to the prop and prop shaft. There was a lot of drag with the shaft, as evidenced from the damage, and also the prop drag.
  
  To the port side of the vessel occurred significant drag damage, I believed the stern drive grabbed the boat - causing it to pivot (a full pivot), so the tip of the bow was facing the direction the boat initially traveled and the stern was facing the water's edge. When the boat pivoted, is when Victim was crushed by the vessel, suffering significant traumatic injuries. The vessel diverted on the rock hump, and slid over Victim. Her body came to rest at the bottom of the rock slope, with the vessel behind her. A large pool of dried blood was visible in this location. She had cut injuries that were consistent with being sliced by the keel of the vessel and possibly stabilizer fin of the vessel as well. The bow of the vessel came over Victim, pivots, and then comes to rest. The vessel went into a full port side tilt.
  
  Conclusion:
  Based on my investigation, pictures, the interview (and witness statements) with Operator and the passengers on board the vessel, I believe that Operator being under the influence of alcohol was a very significant factor in this fatal accident. Operator was operating recklessly on Lake Powell, where significant hazards exist, without due care for the 7 passengers on board the vessel. As the operator he was responsible for the safety of those individuals. He was operating too fast based off the conditions (too close to another vessel), and he failed to keep an adequate distance from another vessel towing a tube. He was also operating on the wrong side of the channel based off navigation laws. In addition, Operator's negligent consumption of alcohol & operating a vessel put individuals on board under unnecessary risk due to his actions. Despite even being warned and questioned about his alcohol consumption prior to the accident by passengers on board and other individuals. Operator being under the influence of alcohol was a significant contributing factor with the boating fatality in addition to other factors stated.
  
  End of Report
  