RedactedNarrative: Prelude:
  
  	On Sunday, August 23, 2020, an accident occurred on Pine Lake involving two personal watercraft's (PWC's) that struck head on.  The accident was reported on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, by the owner of the PWC's.
  
  Details of Event:
  
  	On Tuesday, August 23, 2020, I, Indiana Conservation Officer, was contacted by the Indiana Conservation Officer's Central Dispatch in reference to a subject from LaPorte wishing to report a boating accident that occurred over the weekend.
  
  	I met with the reporting party at his residence.  Subject advised me that over the weekend, on August 23, he allowed a Operator1 and Operator2 to borrow his two personal watercrafts (PWC).  Subject stated that Operator2 returned to the Pine Lake Public Beach along Waverly Road, where the entire group was staying at for the day, and advised that he and Operator1 had just gotten into an accident.  
  
  Subject said he used the Yellow Bombardier PWC to go find Operator1.  Subject then stated that he found Operator1 sitting on the back of a large ski boat, and was holding onto a rope that was tied to the front of the Blue Yamaha PWC that Operator1 had been operating.  Subject said at the time, the PWC being towed was barely above the surface of the water and that he took the rope from Operator1 and towed the PWC back to the beach himself.  Subject said the entire starboard side of the PWC was cracked, and that the engine compartment was full of water.  
  
  Subject asked Operator2 and Operator1 what had just happened.  Subject advised that Operator1 informed him that the two were traveling towards each other on Pine Lake, and that the throttle on the Yellow bombardier was stuck in the open position.  Operator1 said that he and Operator2 had gotten into a head on collision, throwing Operator1 into the water.  Subject said, at the time, no injuries were sustained and that the group stayed out on Pine Lake for the remainder of the day.
  
  	On August 26, 2020, I met with Operator1 at his residence.  Operator1 advised me that they were having a "lake day" and that Subject had brought his two PWC's out to Pine Lake for everyone to use.  Operator1 advised that he was on the Yellow bombardier and Operator2 was on the Blue Yamaha.  Operator1 stated that before the collision, he was traveling towards Operator2, head on.  
  
  Operator1 stated that he tried to slow down upon his approach, but the throttle was stuck in the open position and he was unable to perform any evasive maneuvers.  I reconfirmed with Operator1 that the throttle was stuck, and he stated that the throttle was stuck "as fast as it could go".  May it be noted that in order to steer or maneuver a PWC, the operator must have the throttle engaged.  Knowing this, Operator1's statement about the PWC not being able to make any sort of evasive maneuver with the throttle stuck while engaged did not seem accurate.  
  
  	Operator1 continued on and said that the PWC he was operating was filling up with water and that Operator2 returned to the beach to get Subject.  Operator1 then said that a boat pulled along side him to assist.  Operator1 tied a rope to the tow hook located on the bow of the PWC and held onto the rope to tow it in, when Subject arrived and towed the PWC back to the beach himself.  Operator1 stated that the good Samaritan's boat he was currently on brought him back up to the beach.  Operator1 would not say how long he stayed on Pine Lake after the accident, but did say that the next day, his lower back was very sore.  Operator1 was unable to provide any diagnosis from his visit to Beacon Health, but advised they gave him a shot to help with the pain.
  
  	I have not been able to get in any sort of contact with Operator2, and the family is not cooperating at this time due to a pending civil lawsuit between Operator1, Operator2, and Subject.
  