RedactedNarrative: I Game Warden with the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division was patrolling Lake Oconee on July 4, 2019 at approximately 1800 hours. I received a call from Sergeant about a boat wreck just south of Horseshoe Bend. At the time of the call we were just north of that location. When we arrived on scene I noticed a blue pontoon boat along with Putnam County Sheriff Office patrol boat. 
  
  Putnam County deputies had the victim in their vessel. Putnam County called for an ambulance to transport the victim from the nearest home. Once I had gathered more information from the witnesses in the pontoon boat, I made contact with the two subjects still involved in the collision. The blue jet-ski (US-KAW50918C717) was operated by Operator1. The orange jet-ski was operated by Operator2 (US-KAW50478K18). 
  
  The victim was sitting behind Operator2. According to multiple witnesses and Operator1, Operator1 was following Operator2 as they headed south on the water. Operator2 had slowed down but Operator1 was traveling too closely to react to the change of speed. 
  
  According to Operator1 he released the throttle and attempted to turn his vessel. The vessel would not turn because it was not under power. Operator1 made contact with the rear of Operator2’s vessel. Once contact was made, Operator1’ vessel ran up on the rear end of vessel. The first spot of contact was made on Operator2’s vessel just behind Victim. The hull of Operator1’ jet-ski ripped the handle off Operator2’s vessel and then made contact with Victim’s lower back. 
  
  Victim was thrown to the left side of Operator2’s vessel. Operator1’ vessel continued to travel over the right rear of Operator2’s. The handle that was ripped from the vessel was never recovered. One of the witnesses helped recover Victim from the water. I spoke with Operator1, Operator2, and Victim. All stories were similar, and all subjects were interviewed separately. 
  
  Operator1 was issued one citation for operating personal watercraft above idle speed within 100 feet of object in the water. On June 5th, the following day, I conducted a follow up investigation on the damage between both vessels. Sergeant and I traveled to the residence and took multiple pictures and measurements of damage. The blue jet-ski that ran onto the rear of the other had a large gash in the hull. The paint was rubbed off and the hull had a large crack and hole approximately ¼ inch wide. I called a local fiberglass repair shop and received estimates of the damage on both vessels. The owner of the vessels was contacted and notified of the damage and received information pertaining to law and regulations dealing with personal watercraft operation.
  