RedactedNarrative: On Monday, November 8, 2021 at approximately 2200 Wildlife Officer of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for Clay County, TN was notified by TWRA Region 3 Dispatch of a single vessel run-aground that had occurred on Dale Hollow Reservoir. Dispatch advised that there were no injuries and all parties involved had left the scene. Having been given the contact info of the operator of the boat, and due to the nature of the information I had been given, I waited until the morning of November 9, 2021 to contact the operator.
  	Upon my initial phone call with the operator, I was informed that he had sustained some minor injuries as of a result of the collision inside the boat. The passenger did not sustain any injuries. He advised me that on the evening prior at approximately 1900, he was in operation of the Tracker Nitro Z20 bass boat when it ran aground at divers rock at the mouth of Sulfur Creek on Dale Hollow Lake. He stated that he had just driven the boat out of Moore Hollow, and directed the boat upstream at planing speed when he impacted the rock. He stated at the time of the accident there was no fog, but it was very dark due to moon phase and cloud cover. 
  	Upon my arrival at the scene of the accident on November 9, 2021 I immediately observed the vessel completely up out of the water on divers rock. There was a large amount of fiberglass fragments and paint transfer on the rock showing the angle at which the vessel impacted the rock. 
  	While the exact speed of the vessel at the time of the impact is unknown, the operator did admit to having the vessel up on plane. Excessive speed and operator inattention are the primary factors that resulted in this accident. The operator was unable to see the rock and the green marker at the time of the accident. He should have reduced the speed of the vessel to give plenty of time to observe any hazards in the water and act accordingly. Due to the speed at which the vessel was traveling, he was unable to do so. This was a preventable accident. 
  The use of drugs and/or alcohol was not a factor.
  No citations will be issued.
  