RedactedNarrative: On Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at approximately 21:25 hours, we (Georgia Department of Natural Resources) received a call from GSP in reference to a boat accident involving a PWC that took place on the Alapaha River in Lanier County.  The dispatcher advised that the operator of the boat had been taken to South Georgia Medical Center-Lanier Campus in Lakeland, Georgia for treatment and was currently still in the emergency room there.  Sergeant and I responded to the hospital in order to investigate the incident.
  
  	When I arrived at the hospital, I spoke with Lanier County Deputy, who provided me with the information about the operator of the PWC as well as the witness who had transported the operator to the hospital.  The witness, stated that his girlfriend was the operator of the PWC during the accident.  
  
  Witness advised that he, Operator and some other individuals had been hanging out along the sandbar at the river.  Witness advised that he observed Operator ride down river on the PWC without wearing a PFD at approximately 15:30 hours.  Witness advised that after a short period of time, he noticed that Operator had not returned.  Witness stated that he became worried, so he used one of their floats and paddled down river in order to locate Operator.  Witness stated that after paddling approximately one (1) to two (2) miles down the river he heard Operator yelling for help.  Witness stated that when he located Operator along the eastern bank of the river, she was laying on the ground with obvious injuries to her face, arms and legs and the PWC was up on the river bank in the bushes.  Witness advised that the PWC was approximately 100-150 feet away from the river bank.  After dragging the PWC back down to the river, Witness advised that he loaded Operator onto the PWC and drove her back down river to their vehicle and then transported her to the hospital in Lakeland.  Witness also advised that he felt like alcohol had possibly played a role in causing the accident because he had seen Operator drinking beer throughout the afternoon and he also knew that she had a prescription for anti-anxiety medication.
  
  	After speaking with Witness, I spoke to the ER staff about Operator’s injuries.  The ER nurse advised that Operator possibly had a broken jaw, lacerations to her arms and hand, injuries on her leg and foot as well as her right orbital socket possibly being broken.  The nurse advised that they were awaiting an ambulance to transfer Operator to South Georgia Medical Center-Main Campus in Valdosta for further treatment.  She advised that Operator was awake and alert but in a lot of pain, and she was not able to communicate much, due to the injuries to her jaw.  After speaking with the nurse, I requested that she explain and witness Operator’s signing of a medical record release and she agreed.  Operator was explained what the release was for as well as why it was needed and her signing of the form was witnessed by myself and the ER nurse.
  
  	On Thursday, July 26, 2018, Sgt. and I attempted to locate the accident scene along the river bank but were unable to due to inclement weather that moved through the area immediately after the accident took place as well as very unclear directions that had been given by Witness.  Later that same date, Sgt.  and I were able to look at the PWC that was involved.  The PWC had a Georgia registration of (GA 0506 CR) and was sitting on the ground in the yard, as there was no trailer.  We photographed the PWC but there were no obvious signs of damage from the accident as the PWC is a 1993 model and had obvious signs of age and use.
  
  	Based on the statements from Witness, and not being able to lo