RedactedNarrative: On Friday, April 17, 2020 at approximately 1850, Game Warden received a call from Georgia State Patrol dispatch stating that a vessel was taking on water and sinking in Tanyard creek on Allatoona Lake in Bartow County.   Dispatch also advised us that Bartow County Fire/EMS units were in route.
  
  	GW and I launched our patrol vessel from Park Marina and travelled to Tanyard creek.  After we arrived there, GW called Bartow County dispatch to see where the units on scene were at.  Bartow County dispatch advised us that Fire and EMS had transported the people off the vessel to Blockhouse boat ramp.  GW and I travelled to Blockhouse boat ramp where we met with TowBoat USA, who will be recovering the vessel.  
  
  	GW and I met the two occupants of the vessel which is a blue and white 2000 Moomba ski boat, Georgia Registration GA 0507 VE.  The operator stated that they had just launched from Blockhouse boat ramp and were heading towards McKinney Campground when he noticed white smoke coming from the engine compartment of his vessel.  He opened the compartment and noticed about 1-2 inches of water in the bottom of the hull.  He then stated that he proceeded towards McKinney Campgrounds until the smoke from the engine became thicker.  He stopped the vessel and checked the compartment again and noticed 4-5 inches of water in the hull.  They attempted to make it to shore until the vessel was underwater and then they began swimming to shore.  Once they were on shore, they observed the vessel submerge completely under water.  
  
  
  	Operator stated that both himself and Occupant had their life jackets on since they left the boat ramp at Blockhouse.  I asked Operator and Occupant if they were injured or received medical care.  Occupant said she was uninjured and Operator said he had a blister on his index finger and minor scrapes on his legs.  I asked him if he knew why the vessel sank or what caused it to begin taking on water, and he said he did not.  Operator had just gotten the boat back from the repair shop and he said his mechanic assured him that he had put the plug in.  
  
  	Operator and Towboat filed the claim with Operator’s insurance company and told me that they would be able to recover the vessel since it was only in approximately 20 feet of water.  Since the boat is completely submerged, damages are estimated to be at least $2,000.
  