RedactedNarrative: Operator and subject were riding the pwc in the shutes branch area of old hickory lake. The pwc is running rough and was cutting off. While the pwc was stalled near the island at shutes branch, each on board noticed the strong smell of gasoline. 
  
  When operator tried to start the pwc it exploded and threw subject into the water, and operator jumped into the water. An unknown citizen picked the pair up and took them by boat back to their home on the lake. 
  
  Neither operator or subject were injured. The pwc continued to burn, wilson county fire responded to the sceen. By the time they arrived the pwc was fully a blaze and burned to the water line. The fire dept tried to recover the pwc , but was unable , because it broke in half and sank to the bottom of old hickory lake. The fire dept provided gps coordinates of the pwc''s location, but recovery attempts since the accident were unsucessful.
  