RedactedNarrative: ON 8/7/16 AT 1823 HRS, ICO DISPATCH DISPATCHED A BOATING ACCIDENT ON SALAMONIE RESERVOIR AND THE VICTIM WAS AT THE LOST BRIDGE WEST RAMP.  AT 1855 HRS, I ARRIVED AND SPOKE WITH HUNTINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY #1.  DEPUTY #1 INFORMED ME THAT THE VICTIM DECLINED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND WAS TRANSPORTED VIA PERSONAL VEHICLE.  HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE OTHER INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF LOADING THE BOAT.  
  
  I SPOKE WITH THE OCCUPANTS AFTER THEY PULLED OFF THE RAMP INTO PARKING LOT.  OPERATOR#1 STATED THAT THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT WHILE VICTIM AND TUBER1 WERE BEING PULLED ON A TUBE.  OPERATOR#1 STATED THAT VICTIM AND TUBER1 FELL OFF THE TUBE AND HE TURNED AROUND TO PICK THEM UP.  HE STATED THAT VICTIM WAS GOING TO GET BACK ON THE TUBE BUT THE BOAT DRIFTED CLOSER TO THEM THAN THE TUBE.  VICTIM THEN TRIED TO BOARD THE BOAT USING THE FOLD DOWN LADDER ON THE RIGHT REAR.
  
  OPERATOR#1 STATED THAT HE THOUGHT VICTIM WAS GOING TO BOARD THE TUBE AND LEFT THE BOAT IN GEAR.  WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS GOING TO BOARD THE BOAT, OPERATOR#1 ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE BOAT IN NEUTRAL AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO PRIOR TO VICTIM BEING STRUCK BY THE PROP.  OPERATOR#1 STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT STICKING.
  
  I ALSO SPOKE WITH TUBER1 WHILE SPEAKING WITH OPERATOR#1 AND HE AGREED WITH OPERATOR#1'S STATEMENT.  HE ALSO REITERATED THAT OPERATOR#1 HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BOAT ALL DAY.
  
  AFTER GATHERING INFORMATION AT THE SCENE, I ARRIVED AT PARKVIEW HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL AND SPOKE WITH VICTIM.  VICTIM STATED THAT HE AND TUBER1 FELL OFF THE TUBE AND OPERATOR#1 TURNED AROUND TO PICK THEM UP.  HE STATED THAT EITHER THE BOAT DRIFTED TOWARDS HIM OR HE DRIFTED TOWARDS THE BOAT.  HE THEN HEARD HIS AUNT YELL TO LET HIM KNOW THAT THE BOAT WAS DRIFTING CLOSE.  VICTIM STATED HE TURNED AROUND AND SAW THE BOAT.  HE WAS GOING TO PUSH OFF WITH HIS ARMS AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DO SO.  HE THEN BROUGHT HIS FEET UP, TRIED TO KICK AWAY, AND WAS STRUCK BY THE PROP.  HE SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO HIS LOWER LEFT LEG.
  
  I ALSO SPOKE WITH HIS AUNT.  SHE STATED THAT SHE SAW THE BOAT DRIFTING TOWARDS VICTIM WHO HAD HIS BACK TO THE BOAT AND YELLED AT HIM.  VICTIM TURNED AROUND, KICKED WITH HIS LEGS, AND WAS STRUCK BY THE PROP.  HIS AUNT ALSO STATED THAT OPERATOR#1 HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE BOAT THAT DAY.  HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE BOAT IN NEUTRAL AND KEEPING IT THERE.  SHE SAID SHE THINKS OPERATOR#1 THOUGHT IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND SHE THINKS IT WAS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE. 
  
  TUBER1 AND VICTIM WERE BOTH WEARING PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES. 
  
  OPERATOR#1 WAS PROVIDED AN INDIANA BOAT OPERATOR'S REPORT FORM.
  
  RESPONDING AGENCIES:
  
  PARKVIEW HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL
  MT. ETNA FIRE
  ANDREWS POLICE
  HUNTINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT
  