RedactedNarrative: While working fishing enforcement near John Sevier Reservoir in Hawkins County, Tennessee on May 2, 2020 at approximately 14:37, I received radio traffic from Morristown dispatch advising of a boating accident near Quarryville Access Area on Cherokee Lake. I arrived on scene at approximately 14:53. EMS and Rescue squad was on scene at this time. A partially submerged boat was pulled up on the shore. Subject was lying on the bank unresponsive approximately 25 yards from the vessel. The passenger was standing behind the ambulance. Victim was transported to the Hawkins County Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead by the Hawkins County coroner. 
  
  Based on Investigation:
  Victim and Occupant were fishing Cherokee Lake on May 2, 2020 at approximately 14:32 in a 1993 13'' Gheenoe with a registration of VA 5395 AK. The Gheenoe was powered by a 6 horsepower Mercury tiller handle prop motor. Victim was sitting in the back of the vessel and operating the boat. Occupant was sitting in the front of the boat. The vessel had a U.S. Coast Guard maximum capacity rating of 412 pounds including persons, motor and gear. 
  
  The vessel was rated for a maximum motor size of 5 horsepower. The vessel was overpowered by 20% according to the U.S. Coast Guard capacity plate. The boat and all contents including the motor weighed approximately 468.5 pounds. According to the manufacturer’s website, the empty vessel weighed approximately 130 pounds. The motor and contents weighed approximately 338.5 pounds. According to Victim''s fishing license, his listed weight was 194 pounds. According to a statement provided by Occupant, his weight was 280 pounds. The total occupant weight was 474 pounds. The total weight of the motor, occupants and gear inside the vessel was approximately 812.5 pounds. 
  
  The vessel had a U.S. Coast Guard maximum capacity rating of 412 pounds including persons, motor and gear. The vessel was overloaded by approximately 400 pounds. Based on the weight of the occupants, motor and gear inside the vessel, it was overloaded 97% beyond the U.S. Coast Guards maximum capacity rating. The overloading and overpowered motor caused swamping of the vessel. When the boat began to take on water, both Occupant and Victim ended up in the water. Neither occupant had on a PFD. Upon investigation, only one PFD and one type IV throwable was located in the vessel. Occupant was able to get himself and Victim to the shoreline but Victim was unresponsive.
  
  Based on Statements:
  Victim and Occupant were fishing on Cherokee lake across from the Quarryville TVA camping area. They decided to move fishing locations. Occupant began paddling from the front of the boat. Victim started the motor and placed it in gear. As they started moving, Victim told Occupant to stop paddling and watch his side because water was coming in. Occupant leaned towards the other side for a moment, but water continued to enter the vessel, so he leaned back the other way. 
  
  According to witness statements, the boat was sitting low in the water due to the amount of weight inside the vessel and being overloaded.  Occupant and Victim ended up in the water due to the swamping of the vessel. Victim yelled for help 3 or 4 times. Occupant began swimming towards the shoreline. A witness yelled at Occupant telling him that Victim was going under. Occupant began swimming towards Victim. According to witness statements, Victim went under 3 times before Occupant reached him. Occupant grabbed onto Victim''s shirt and started swimming towards the shoreline. A witness threw a rope to Occupant when he was close to shore. The witness helped get both out of the water. Victim was unresponsive. Occupant asked if anyone knew CPR, but no one responded. Occupant gave 3 chest compressions, but Victim remained unrespons...
  