RedactedNarrative: DUE TO OPERATOR BEING IN HOSPITAL IN ANOTHER STATE; INVESTIGATION IS ON-GOING WITH MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO INTERVIEW OPERATOR.
  
  INFORMATION KNOWN SO FAR ACCORDING TO WITNESSES IN V1: Operator entered a chute on the 11pt river on plane and encountered a root wad that he attempted to maneuver around.  When he swerved to miss the obstruction, he struck a tree which caused him to be ejected from V1 and sustain severe injuries. No other passenger was injured or ejected. He was med-flighted to Memphis prior to the investigators arrival.
  
  UPDATE: Upon interviewing the operator, he relayed the same information as above. He advised when he maneuvered around the root wad and saw he was going to impact the tree (where one of his passenger's was sitting), he sped up to avoid hitting that spot on V1 and instead causing the impact to be further toward the stern (near his location).  After he was ejected and injured, the other passengers were able to get him back into V1 and get medical help.