RedactedNarrative: On 9/29/2020 at approximately 15:36 hours, Montana Game Warden received a call from Montana Highway Patrol Dispatch regarding a fatal boating accident that occurred on the Madison River near the Madison River Ranch.  MHP dispatch stated that Gallatin County Sheriff's Office was requesting FWP assistance.
  
  At 15:39 hours Warden called Gallatin County Dispatch inquiring about what Deputy was on scene.  Gallatin County Dispatch advised that Deputy1 was on scene.  At 15:44 hours Warden1 called Deputy1 to find out what had happened.  Deputy1 had stated that a fatality had occurred near the Madison River Ranch after a boater had encountered a fallen tree in the river and became trapped in his vessel by the river current.  
  
  Warden1, who was at a firearms training and qualification, asked if Deputy1 needed an immediate response from FWP.  Deputy1 stated that he did not as Gallatin County Search and Rescue was on scene as well as medical.  Deputy1 stated that he was unsure if FWP needed to be involved.  Warden1 advised Deputy1 that FWP needed to complete a Boat Crash Investigation Report to submit to the U.S. Coast Guard.  Warden1 advised Deputy1 that he would try to leave the firearms training early so that he could respond.
  
  At 16:25 hours Warden1 called Deputy1 to advise him that he was able to leave the firearms training and was enroute to the scene.  Warden1 arrived on scene at 16:38 hours and spoke with Deputy1 and Three Forks Ambulance.  By the time Warden1 had arrived, rescue swimmers with Gallatin County Search and Rescue had already recovered the victim's body and associated canoe.  All other witnesses had left the scene as well.
  
  Deputy1 showed Warden1 what had happened from a point overlooking the river.  Deputy1 explained that the victim was travelling downstream and had entered a channel of the river with an "S" style turn.  On the cutbank side of the first part of the curve, a large tree had fallen into the river channel partially blocking the river channel.  The tree blocked approximately 1/2 of the river channel and Subject wasn't able to avoid the obstruction and became entangled in it.  Deputy1 explained further that Subject had become trapped in his vessel underneath the surface of the water and pushed into the bottom of the vessel by the force of the river current.  Deputy1 stated that Subject was wearing a PFD.
  
  Deputy1 continued that the victim’s friend was in another vessel behind the victim and was able to avoid the tree that had fallen into the river.  After passing the fallen tree, the victim's friend swam back upstream in an attempt to help Subject.  Friend was unable to free Subject from the fallen tree.  A short time thereafter, another vessel with two other witnesses pulled over to assist Friend and call 911.  Deputy1 stated that Friend was wearing a PFD as well.  Warden1 took two digital images of the fallen tree in the river.  These images are included in this report as attachments.
  
  Warden1 asked Deputy1 to forward report of incident to him when Deputy1 completed it, so that Warden1 could complete Boat Accident Report for the U.S. Coast Guard.  Deputy1 acknowledged and advised that he would.
  