RedactedNarrative: On sunday june 26, 2022 at approximately 5:00 pm, an 18 ft sea ray bow rider was operating on falls lake between blue jay point state park and highway 98.  On board the vessel was his daughter and his two sons.  They were being pulled on a tube.  Operator was traveling west towards upper barton creek between 10 and 20 mph.  Operator made a right turn towards the highway 98 bridge.  Operator made a left turn back towards upper barton access area.  During the turn, the vessel struck a submerged object beneath the water that was not visible, disabling the motor.  The seal that holds the outdrive in place was damaged causing the vessel to take on water from the stern.  The boat floated across the channel from the wakes of other boats passing by.  An off-duty firefighter was flagged down and gave assistance to the operator family and took them back to upper barton access area.  The vessel sank vertically out of the navigable channel at the mouth of upper barton creek.
  
  On june 30, 2022, the vessel involved was removed from falls lake by sea tow.  During the removal from the lake, water began to pur from the outdrive and the plug was removed from the vessel.  All required safety equipment was on board and readily accessible.  Life jackets were worn the entire time by all four passengers.
  Alcohol was not a contributing factor.
  