RedactedNarrative: At approximately at 7:30 PM, four people were operating rented personal watercrafts (PWCs) and were being monitored by River Road Watersports on the Illinois River just outside of the Grafton Marina.  A barge came upon them from upriver. OPERATOR2 and SUBJECT1 went around the barge on the left and began operating upriver of the barge. SUBJECT2 followed a short time later. The last to get around the barge was OPERATOR1. 
  
  According to SUBJECT3, he ordered all the PWC renters to get left and upriver of the barge. OPERATOR1 was well behind the main group and once he was on the left side of the barge pushed his throttle to full to catch up. 
  
  At the same time, OPERATOR2 had been operating in a small circular patten and began travelling downriver. OPERATOR2 began making a slow turn to head back upriver. OPERATOR2 stated at the beginning of the turn, she looked both upriver and downriver to ensure no one was around her. 
  
  OPERATOR2 stated she makes slow turns because she has concerns about falling off the PWC and getting back on. Additionally, during this particular turn, OPERATOR2 stated she was barely depressing the throttle. As she was nearing the end of the turn, she says she operator1 yell her name twice and then she felt herself being ejected from her PWC.
  
  SUBJECT2 stated at the time of the accident he was downriver of the collision and was behind OPERATOR1 and watched the collision. SUBJECT2 stated he never operator1 or observed OPERATOR1 come off the throttle before he collided with OPERATOR2. SUBJECT1 stated he thought OPERATOR2 had stopped in the middle of her turn. 
  
  This could be plausible as OPERATOR2 stated she came off the throttle which would cause the PWC to stop all forward movement. SUBJECT1 was approximately 150 yards from the group. SUBJECT1 stated he believed OPERATOR1 had no chance to stop before the collision. SUBJECT1 stated OPERATOR1 was only 100 feet away from OPERATOR2 when she stopped. OPERATOR1''S speed was estimated between 40-60 MPH according to witnesses. OPERATOR1 stated that he had it full throttle, but because of the short distance, he travelled it was unlikely it was a max speed. 
  
  OPERATOR2 was ejected between 40 and 50 feet from her PWC. SUBJECT2 was the first to arrive to assist OPERATOR2. OPERATOR2 began lifting her leg out of the water and that is when SUBJECT2 noticed the severity of the injury. 
  
  SUBJECT2 informed SUBJECT3 that she was hurt bad. SUBJECT3 radioed to River Road Watersports to call for an ambulance. Subject4 was on his boat and was not far away. Subject4 stated it took him about 5 minutes to get on scene and he assisted SUBJECT2 and OPERATOR2 on to his boat. Subject4 stated he transported them back to Grafton Marina. The whole transport took between 10-15 minutes from the time of the accident. This matches the notification process when it was relayed to me. Grafton Police was on the scene immediately and EMS shortly afterwards. It was determined after EMS arrived that OPERATOR2 needed to be airlifted to Barnes due to the severity of her injuries. 
  
  OPERATOR1 was ejected from the front of his PWC after it landed and he went over the steering column. SUBJECT1 went and gathered OPERATOR1 and transported him into the marina. The damaged PWCs were brought in by a third party as they were left on the river as everyone left to get the injured parties back to the launch.
  
  This case was brought before the Jersey County State''s Attorney''s office on 09/09/20. The state''s attorney declined charges against OPERATOR1 and OPERATOR2. However, charges were filled against the owner of River Road Watersports. See supplemental reports for additional information.
  