RedactedNarrative: On July 1st, 2017, around 1pm WCO was called to investigate a boat accident that happened on Richmond Lake by the East boat ramp, located in Brown County, South Dakota. WCO’s went to the emergency room at Avera Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota to meet with the 10 year old girl who was hit by the prop and her mother.  She informed us that her daughter P1 who is 10 years old, was hit by a prop while riding on the front of a pontoon, while she was with P2 and O1. WCO also took photos of P1’s injuries which were cuts to the left upper thigh and a cut across the back of the heel.
  WCO’s went out into the lobby and talked to P2.  P2 told us there were 4 adults and 3 kids on the pontoon.  P1 was not wearing a life jacket and was sitting with her legs dangling off the bow of the boat with another girl.  As the pontoon was going into shore, P1 fell off the front of the pontoon. P1 went underwater between the two floats of the pontoon and was then struck by the prop.  P2 told us as soon as O1 realized P1 fell off O1 stopped the boat, and backed up the boat to P1, and P2 reached down and grabbed P1 out of the water.
  After WCO’s had talked to P2, WCO’s went and talked to O1. He confirmed the P2’s story and also told us the boat was a 20’ft Triton with a 75 Mercury. WCO’s issued O1 a citation for careless operation.