RedactedNarrative: On 06/01/19 at Approximately 8:30 P.M., I CPO was notified of a boat accident on Otter Lake involving the prop of a boat. As I was enroute to the accident I was informed that the female subject, (Victim) that was thrown out of the boat and struck by the prop was being airlifted to St. John''s hospital.
  
  I arrived on scene at approximately 9:30 P.M. and spoke with the operator of the watercraft. Operator advised me that he, Victim and Subject1 were out fishing at Otter Lake. They had just left a cove on the West side of the lake just north of the main boat launch. Operator advised me that the water was very calm and he was traveling at around 25 MPH. All of a sudden he lost total control of his boat steering. 
  
  Subject1 was sitting directly to his left, on the port side of the boat center beam and that Victim was sitting on the bow, (deck) of the boat facing backwards.  When Operator lost control of the steering the outboard motor began to, "fish-tail" back and forth out of control.  This caused Victim to be thrown out of the watercraft on the port side and Operator and Subject1 to be thrown back and forth against each other in the boat center beam. They observed Victim being thrown out of the boat. Before Operator could throttle down on the boat Victim was struck by the lower unit and prop. 
  
  Subject1 was able to jump into the lake and retrieve Victim and put her up into the boat with Operator''s assistance. Once, in the boat several prop cuts were observed on Victim. Operator immediately began to administer first aid to her applying pressure and tying off the cuts to the best of his ability.  They were unable to steer and restart the motor after they were able to administer first aid to Victim. They began to use the trolling motor to head back to the boat launch until a passer-by was able to tow them the rest of the way in. 
  
  Once, at the marina they were able to receive medical treatment and Victim was airlifted to St. John''s hospital in Springfield. 
  
  I began looking at the watercraft and assessing the steering issue. I observed that the steering cable was disconnected from the drag link on the motor. This would have caused all steering capabilities to be lost on the boat. The nut had backed off of the threads used to attach the cable to the link. I discussed the issue with Operator. He advised me that he was the one that mounted the motor on the transom and connected all the steering cables from the throttle to the motor link. He informed me that he put a nylon threaded nut on the link to avoid it from backing off and was unsure how this happened. I observed that the bolt located on the bottom starboard side motor mount was also loose. I advised both Operator and Subject1 to fill out written statements for me, that I was going to seize the boat so I could conduct a thorough investigation of it during the day light, and that they would be free to leave. Both subjects had no indicators of impairment nor any evidence was found on the boat of possible impairment. A company towed the boat and trailer for me to their inside storage facility.  
  
  On 06/02/19 at approximately 6:00 P.M., I was able to conduct a more thorough investigation of the boat in the day light. I observed and took pictures of the boat lanyard safety cut-of switch. I tested the lanyard safety cut-off switch which was operational. The lanyard rope was still attached to the switch. I observed and took pictures of a blood stain on the bow deck of the boat that was approximately 18" in diameter. I took a picture of the drag link and un-attached steering cable. All pictures taken are attached to the report. I advised the towing company that the boat was able to be released to the owner Subject1. 
  
  On 06/02/19 at approximately 7:00 P.M., I met up with operator...
  