RedactedNarrative: V3 was traveling down the Des Moines River & following V1 & V2. V3 came around a corner on the river & noticed 2 empty PWC floating in the water along with his 3 friends who had been thrown from the vessels. V1 stated he was heading downstream near V2 & as they approached the old Hwy 30 bridge in the middle of the river he was scalped by a cable going across the river. V1 stated he observed the cable going across the river at that location while going upstream earlier in the day, but did not see or remember it when coming back down stream. V2 was driving ahead of V1 when it came across the metal cable first which struck him across both arms & mid section, throwing him off the PWC. V2 remembers seeing the cable & going around it on his way upstream earlier in the day. All four individuals were wearing life jackets.  All 3 operators were charged with BWI