RedactedNarrative: On 08/25/2018 at approximately 00:30 hours a report of a boat accident with injuries on smith mountain lake (SML) (within Franklin County) was reported to DGIF dispatch. Dispatch informed me a bass boat engine had fallen on the passenger of a vessel and the passenger had multiple fingers cut off.  
  
  I arrived to Old Mill Dr. and observed a 2018 19 ft. long Nitro bass boat (VA 8881 CA) tied to the dock with SML Fire and Rescue standing by. The 200 hp Mercury Pro XS outboard engine was lying across the passenger seat with the propeller hanging off the portside of the vessel. The engine extended from the left edge of the operator seat to off the edge of the portside. The skeg to the engine was facing the stern and had been severely scuffed and scratched. 
  
  The propeller did not appear to be damaged and the top cover to the engine was lying in the bow of the vessel. The location where the engine was attached to the stern did not show much damage. The small area where the engine was attached showed the engine had been removed quickly. The electrical cords were still attached to both the engine and the vessel and the rear elevated fishing seat was not damaged. The vessel’s engine had detached, went over the rear fishing seat without touching it, and landed across the passenger seat. 
  
  The fish finder on the operator’s console was pushed inward and the display screen had multiple breaks in it. I could not see any damage to the bow of the vessel.  The vessel had the required safety equipment on board.   
  
  SML Fire and Rescue said they responded to Old Mill Dr earlier in the night and observed the engine lying on top of the passenger. They were able to remove Occupant from underneath the vessel’s engine and assessed his injuries. Occupant had lost two of the fingers on his right hand and had sustained a large laceration to his left thigh.  SML Fire and Rescue successfully transported the two injured individuals to Bay Roc Marina where they were transported to RMH by Franklin County EMS.   I arrived to RMH at approximately 02:50 hours and spoke to Operator. 
  
  Operator said he had purchased the vessel from Anglers Choice around 3 months prior. Operator said he and his friend Occupant had put in at Moorman’s Marina at approximately 1930 hours on 08/24/2018 and traveled southbound on SML to go fishing.  Operator said at approximately 00:00 hours he and Occupant were traveling north on SML back to Moorman’s Marina at approximately 55 mph near SML Water Marker R 65 when he heard something tap the front bow of the vessel. 
  
  Operator said immediately after he felt the tap, the vessel came to a complete stop, and he felt something heavy hit him in the back. Operator said he heard Occupant screaming in pain and saw the 200 hp. Mercury engine lying on top of him. 
  
  Operator said he put a tourniquet on Occupant’s arm and used his trolling motor to travel to nearby dock’s on the west side of sml. Operator said he went to a fourth residence and an older woman allowed Operator to call 911 using her phone. Operator said Occupant was awake the whole time and did not lose consciousness. Operator said he thought the rescue squad had recovered Occupant’s severed fingers.  Operator handed me his Boater Education Card (completed 06/26/2016), his fishing license, and registration card. 
  
  Operator said he was wearing a Type V life guard approved life jacket at the time and Occupant was wearing a Type III. Operator said he saw debris floating in SML earlier in the evening but could not believe he had struck an object so hard that it detached the engine.  
  
  I could not smell any alcoholic beverage about Operator’s person and his eyes did not appear to be red and glassy. Operator said he had not had any alcoholic beverages to drink earlier in the evening. Operator said Occupant had consumed two or three canned beers. 
  
  I left Operator and went to Occupant’s room in an attempt to speak to him. I was informed by the hospital staff that Occupant was in the operation room and would be in there for several hours.   I went back to Operator’s room and issued him a summons for 4 VAC 15-390-90 for failure to keep a proper lookout.  
  On the morning of 08/25/2018 CPO went to RMH and spoke to Occupant. CPO observed a large cast on Occupant’s right hand and a bandage on his right thigh.  Occupant told CPO that at approximately 00:00 hours he and Operator were traveling southbound on SML near R65 when he felt the vessel hit something. 
  
  The object the vessel hit caused it to lift up and come to a complete stop. Occupant instantly felt something heavy hit the right side of his body. Occupant said the engine landed on his right hand and right thigh. Occupant said he remembered Operator going to a few docks and trying to find a phone to call 911. Occupant said his right thumb and right middle finger had been completely cut off. Occupant said the bones in his right hand had been shattered and he sustained a deep laceration to the bone on his right thigh. 
  
  Occupant said neither he nor Operator had had any alcoholic beverages to drink prior to the incident.  On the afternoon of 08/25/2018 Conservation Police Sgt. met up with Operator when he loaded the vessel on to his trailer. Sgt. did not observe any damage to the bottom or bow of the vessel. Sgt. located Occupant’s middle finger on the floor of the vessel, wrapped it in a plastic bag with a cold water bottle, gave it to me, and I gave the bag to Franklin County EMS. Franklin County EMS then transported the finger to the Department of Forensic Science Lab in Roanoke to be disposed of. Sgt. also informed me he had tied a large log to the shoreline with a rope in the area of R65.
  