RedactedNarrative: 2014 hours   *** I spoke with Operator1 about the incident briefly.  He did tell me that he got the information from the other vessel operator.  I asked Operator1 for the other operator's information and he gave me the name of Operator2 and his contact information.  Operator1 said that they did not know who to call about the incident and neither did Operator2.  Operator1 did tell me that his boat was taken back to Park Marina and that it had to be pulled out of the water because of the damage to the hull.  He said it was parked at the repair lot at Park Marina on Allatoona Lake.  I told Operator1 to send me a statement about the incident to my state email address.  I called Operator2 to get his side of the story and to arrange a time to meet with him.  
  
  I met with Operator2 and one of the occupants of the boat at Operator2's residence.  I told both of them to send me a statement recounting the events of the incident to my state email address.  I also photographed Operator2's vessel at this time.  Operator2 showed me the damage to his vessel.  There is significant damage to the bottom of his aluminum vessel near the chine on the starboard side at the stern.  There is also another area that appears to be damaged from the collision as well at the top of the stern of the vessel on the starboard side.  These areas were photographed.  Operator2 said that he had all the safety equipment on his boat and that his lights were working on the night of the incident.  At this time I also got the contact information for an occupant in Operator2's vessel.
  
  Next I went to Park Marina to photograph Operator1's vessel.  His vessel did sustain a crack to the fiberglass beginning on the port side at the chine approximately 47 inches from the stern.  This is also the point of impact between the 2 vessels.  The crack in the fiberglass continues up to the rub rail of the vessel.  This is the only damage that I noticed to the vessel.  I photographed this area as well as other features of the vessel.  Operator1 also sent me another statement about the incident at this time.
  Based on the information provided to me by all parties involved I cannot say which vessel is at fault for several reasons.  There was no call made the night of the incident.  I have spoken with both parties and told them that in the future just like in an automobile accident they can call 911 to get help.  I was patrolling on Allatoona Lake that evening near the dam and could have responded quickly to the scene to resolve the issues that we have before us at this time.  The main issue with this incident is that the location of the vessels when the incident occurred are very different.
  
  Operator2 and his occupants in their statements said that they were approximately 20 yards from the shore traveling in a northerly direction back to the area of Kellogg Creek.  Operator2 said in his statement that he saw the boat coming and could not turn to the right because of his closeness to the shore. This left him with no choice but to turn to the left as he thought the other vessel was going to pass him on the right.  According to Operator1 he saw the vessel and knew that a head on collision was imminent.  Operator1 did tell me that he was several hundred yards from the shore near the area of Harbor Town Marina.  When Operator1 saw that both vesse…
   