RedactedNarrative: SYNOPSIS
  
  On 06/09/2020 I, New Mexico State Parks Marine Enforcement Officer, investigated a report of a boating accident that had occurred at Conchas Lake on 06/04/2020. The accident was self-reported by the vessel operator. The vessel struck a submerged rock, causing damage to the hull, keel fins and prop. There were no injuries. My investigation took place at the vessel operator’s residence. I conducted interviews and photographed the damage. Interview statements appear to be consistent with the damage that I observed.
  
  NARRATIVE 
  
  On Saturday, June 6, 2020, I retuned a call from Conchas Lake State Park Superintendent. Subject stated that a boating accident had occurred at Conchas Lake State Park on June 4, and that the party left the park before he could begin an investigation. I agreed to meet the boat operator at his residence in order to document the damage.
  
  I arrived at the residence of Operator1 at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Operator1 is the owner/operator of the vessel. I also interviewed a passenger. Interviews were conducted separately from one another.
  
  In the course of my interviews, I learned that the vessel struck a submerged rock in Conchas Lake at 5:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. on June 4, 2020. Everyone aboard was wearing a personal floatation device.
  
  The vessel launched from the south ramp at approximately 12:30 p.m. and had been on the water for about six hours. While returning to the dock the boat struck a submerged rock. The rock is located about 500 feet from the ramp and is “huge”.
  
  I asked if the rock is located inside the center channel. I defined the center channel as the area in between the red and green buoys. Both said that it is, and that it wasn’t marked as a hazard. I am not familiar with Conchas Lake so I cannot confirm that this is true. It should be noted that the vessel was returning to the same ramp that it had launched from when the collision occurred. Therefore, they may have had some awareness of the hazard’s presence.
  
  At the time of the collision, the vessel was traveling at approximately 12–15 miles per hour. The boat’s rate of speed was steady. The weather was sunny, wind speed was light, and water conditions were calm. The operator’s field of view was unobstructed.
  
  After the collision, the passengers exited the boat in order to make it lighter and to rock it back and forth. The water was ankle- to knee-deep. Another boat attempted to tow them off but was unsuccessful. Operator1 stated that the wakeboard tower was damaged as a result. I photographed a friction mark on the portside gunwale near the base of the wakeboard tower, a broken piece of rope and a toggle lock that is missing from the port side of the wakeboard tower.
  
  At approximately 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., subject called the Conchas Lake State Park office to report that the boat is stuck. Her call went to voicemail, so she called 911. According to Operator1, the 911 operator told her that no one is available to assist them. At this point a pontoon boat was able to successfully tow their boat off the rock.
  
  According to Operator1, the operator of the pontoon boat told him that another vessel had gotten stuck on this rock earlier in the day, causing damage. I asked if they have any contact information for these boats or photographs of them. He said no.
  
  The registration number is NM1233EE. The HIN is USGQE23008H415. It is an orange fiberglass 23-foot, 2015 Epic with an inboard engine. The registration is current. However, I advised that the registration number needs to be updated before the vessel can reenter the water.
  
  The vessel capacity is 14. According to statements seven people were aboard at the time of the accident. All passengers were wearing personal floatation devices. All required safety equipment was on board. The vessel operator has successfully completed a boating safety course and has over 100 hours of operating experience.
  
  The boat is insured by Progressive. A claim has been filed. 
  
  DISCUSSION
  
  In addition to the damage listed above, I observed a four-foot long hairline crack in the floor of the cockpit area. The crack runs from bow to stern. I observed a 12-inch long scrape on the aft portside quarter and a five-inch long scrape on the aft starboard quarter of the hull. Operator1 said these were caused while trying to rock the boat off the rock.
  
  I next documented damage to the keel and hull, working in a systematic and methodical fashion from bow to stern. I observed several scrapes and abrasions of varying severity to the fiberglass along the centerline of the hull. I observed heavy damage to the middle and rear keel fins. They are badly warped. There is cavitation to the backside of the rear keel fin. The front keel fin appears to be undamaged. I observed extreme warping and cavitation to the propeller. Additionally, Operator1 claims damage to the steering shaft. He also stated that the check engine light and engine temperature light came on.
  
  Damage to the vessel appears to have been caused by a forward impact to an underwater object. Based on the interview statements, I am unable to exclude operator inattention as a contributing factor(s) to the accident.
  
  End of report.
  