RedactedNarrative: Details of the investigation:
  
  On saturday 8/21/21, steuben county dispatch put out a call of a boat accident on hamilton lake involving a boat and a pwc.  The initial report was that a boat struck a pwc and there were two subjects in the water.  While in route, i learned that the subjects had been removed from the water and both the boat and pwc had left the scene.  The boat was described as a maroon and white runabout style boat with a maroon bimini top.  The pwc was described as purple.
  
  I spoke to hamilton pd officer while in route.  I gave him the descriptions of both watercraft and he advised he would go out on the lake in the hamilton pd patrol boat to look for the watercraft involved.  I advised him that i would head to the hamilton lake public access site to see if either watercraft were there.
  While patrolling just north of hamilton at approximately 7600 sr 427 (across from hamilton lake marina), i noticed a boat matching the description parked at a dock with multiple subjects standing around the boat.  I stopped my commission in the roadway and approached the subjects on the dock.  I asked them if they happened to have been involved in a boat accident recently.   They stated they had.  I could see damage to plastic on the starboard side of the boat near the driver's windshield area as well as fiberglass damage to the bow of the starboard and port sides.  I asked what happened.  Operator 2 stated that he was operating the boat (he was also the boat owner) when his nephew struck his boat with a pwc that he was operating.  He stated that he was sitting stationary in the boat with passengers (all listed above) and operator 1 was attempting to pull alongside on the pwc.  Also on the pwc was passenger (girlfriend).  As the pwc got close to the boat, a wave caused girlfriend to begin to fall off the back.  He attempted to hold onto the steering controls and hit the throttle accidentally causing the pwc to accelerate quickly into the starboard side of the boat.  The pwc struck the boat and rode up over the bow of the boat landing across the port side back in the water.  Operator 2 stated there were two passengers in the bow of the boat at the time of the accident.  The pwc went over the top of victim without making any contact however it struck victim 2 in the head.  Victim 2 was standing near operator 2 and i asked him if he was ok.  He stated that he had a bump on his head which i observed.  It appeared to be red but not bleeding.  I asked him if he needed medical attention and he said that he thought he was alright.  I asked steuben county to start medics to clear him since there was a head injury involved.  
  
  I identified everyone associated with the boat and obtained the registration.  I asked where operator 1 and the pwc were and was told they had left the scene approximately five to ten minutes prior to my arrival and were headed home.  I was told that operator 1 was very shaken up over the incident. 
  
  At about this time, officer was back on land as i had advised that i had found the involved parties.  I asked officer to stand by with the occupants of the boat while operator 2 led me to a parking lot nearby where the pwc had already been loaded on a trailer.  I advised that i had called for medics to have victim 2 checked out.  I also advised that the pwc operator had left the scene.  I asked officer to call operator 1 and have them return.  
  
  I followed operator 2 to the parking lot and took photographs of the involved pwc.  He stated that after the accident occurred, he jumped into the water while operator 1 got into the boat.  He had them ride in the boat back to shore and he drove the pwc to the public access site and pulled it out of the water before bringing it to its current location in the lot across from hamilton lake marina.  He handed me a registration for the pwc which showed registered.  Operator 2 stated that he was a co-owner of the pwc with him.  I did not notice any significant damage to the pwc.  There were a few paint scrapes near the bow around the water line and a few fresh scrapes to the registration decals on the starboard side. 
   
  I went back to the boat and took photographs of it as well.  By this time, medics with hamilton fire rescue were on scene attending to victim 2.  I was told by medics that he had refused any further treatment.  Officer advised me that he had got ahold of operator 1 and he and girlfriend were on their way back to the scene.  Officer stated that when he talked to operator 1 on the phone, he did not sound intoxicated.  
  
  I advised operator 2 and the boat passengers they were free to leave, and i went and waited in my commission for operator 1 to arrive back on scene.  At approximately 4:35 pm, they arrived back on the scene.  I met with both and asked what had happened.  His story was consistent with what everyone else had told me previously.  He stated that he was very inexperienced with operating pwc's (this was his first time).  He and girlfriend both stated they had no injuries, and they did not need medics.  I did not suspect alcohol was a factor as i did not have any signs of impairment from him.  I asked him if he had any alcohol at all to drink that day (as he was under 21) and he stated he had not.  I did not offer him a pbt.  
  
  I informed operator 1 that state law requires him to report boating accidents and we discussed why that is important for responding units.  I advised him we need a call so we can complete a report for damages as well as make sure involved parties received medical attention if needed.  He stated that he didn't think about that and that his uncle was the boat and pwc owner who was not concerned about the damage done.  I wrote operator a warning for failure to report a boat accident and cleared from the scene.
  
  Applicable statutes (optional)
  
  14-15-4-2 - fail to report boat accident
  
  Motive: (optional)
  
  N/a
  
  Modus operandi: (optional)
  
  N/a
  
  Additional leads: (optional)
  
  N/a
  
  Attachments:
  
  14 scene photos (i: drive)
  
  Current disposition:
  
  Forwarded to lt. For report approval.