RedactedNarrative: On July 6th 2018 operator was operating a 20 foot open bow Starcraft motorboat powered by a Mercury Pro XS 250 outboard with 8 people on board.  In addition to the 8 people positioned inside the vessel.  Occupant was pulling an additional 3 juveniles on a Sidewinder brand tube.  He estimated his speed at the time as being on plane at a speed around 30 miles per hour.  This was agreed to by the owner of the vessel who was also on board at the time.  
  
  While pulling the tube Operator was travelling in the area of White Oak Creek where it opens into the main lake area of Lake Cumberland.  In this area Operator stated he travelled across a large wake produced by another vessel in the area and has he had been unaware of the wake the tube also proceeded to cross it.  He stated that he did not see the wake coming nor was he told of it from anyone designated as a spotter.  After striking the wake all three riders on the tube were thrown from it into the water.  All three got back into the boat on their own power however one juvenile was complaining of back, head and neck pain and was having difficulty breathing.  As she was thrown from the tube her body made contact with the other ejected tube riders. 
  
   One of the passengers on the vessel then called 911 and asked that EMS meet them at Conley Bottom Marina. 
  
    I observed that the vessel had been rated for 10 people however it had been under power with 11 persons on board.  Most of the occupants were under the age of 18 that had been on board with most being well under average weight calculated for an adult passenger.  The operator also voluntered sobriety testing at this point and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  He as well as all other passengers appeared to be very concerned with the injury to the victim.  
    I followed up with the grandmother of the injured party several days later and was told that the victim had been released from Lake Cumberland Regional the same evening that she had been transported there and was diagnosed with non-surgical mild compression fractures of the T10 and T11 vertrabre.
  
  While photographing the involved tube the label provided general use guidelines.  These included speeds not to exceed 20 miles per hour with adult riders and not to exceed 15 miles per hour with children.  The guidelines also included not to tow near other watercraft.  The area the tube was being utilized in typically a high traffic area.  The speed reportedly travelling while utilizing the tube also was above the listed maximum.
  
  