RedactedNarrative: On April 21, 2018, I, Game Warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Law Enforcement Division, received notification of a boating incident on Lake Burton, in the area of 205 Limberlost Trail, at 2316 hours.  
  
  I arrived at 205 Limberlost Trail, at approximately 2345 hours, and met with Rabun County EMS personnel.  Rabun County EMS said a male subject and a female subject were unconscious and being transported to a landing zone for Life Flight transport to a hospital.  The specific hospital the two subjects were going to was unknown at that time, but later found to be Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia.  EMS staff said another female on board the vessel had a large cut on her forehead and may require treatment.
  
  EMS staff told me the male subject receiving Life Flight transport had a serious open wound head injury.  Other EMS personnel on scene said that it appeared as if the operator of the vessel struck a pine tree still attached to the bank on Lake Burton.
  
  I contacted Sergeant, with GA DNR-LED, and advised him of the boating incident.  I told Sgt. the details that I had so far in reference to the injured persons on board the vessel involved in the boating incident and asked if DNR-LED CIRT could respond.  I was advised that the boating incident did not meet CIRT requirements.  At approximately 0002 hours on April 22, 2018, I began gathering names, dates of birth, and contact information for the occupants on board the vessel involved in the incident.
  
  The owner/operator of the vessel was identified.  When I asked Operator for his name and date of birth, his speech was slurred and mumbled to the point that I had to ask him for confirmation of the spelling of his last name.  When I asked Operator for his date of birth, Operator seemed to be confused and hesitated before giving an answer.  Operator gave his date of birth only after subject1 reminded him that I needed his date of birth.  I had to ask Operator to confirm the year of his date of birth due to his slurred and mumbled speech.  Operator stumbled as he walked on the gravel driveway, and appeared to be unsteady as he walked.  Operator mentioned he thought he had a head injury.  I asked Operator if he needed to be transported to a hospital, and Operator refused transport.  Operator said he was fine.  Operator had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage upon his breath when he spoke to me.  I noticed Operator’s eyes were red and watery when we spoke.  (Note: Operator was asked several times by both Rabun County EMS personnel and GA DNR-LED Game Wardens if he needed to go to the hospital to have his head checked.  Operator maintained he was fine and only had a “bump” on his head.)
  
  I recorded everyone’s information, including the male and female subject that received a Life Flight transport, and recorded where they said they were on the vessel when the incident occurred.  Operator was the operator of the vessel, Subject1 was seated in the rear middle of the vessel, Subject2 was standing in the rear middle of the vessel, Subject3 was seated in the rear of the vessel behind the operator, Subject4 was seated in the middle passenger side of the vessel, Subject5 was seated in the front passenger side of the vessel, and Subject6 was identified by the other passengers as being on board the vessel and receiving a Life Flight transport.  Subject2 was the male subject that received a Life Flight transport.  Subject1 was the female passenger that received a cut on her forehead.  At this time GW arrived on scene and I turned the investigation over to GW since he is the boating safety officer assigned to Lake Burton.  GW visually observed the vessel and incident location after arriving on scene.
  The vessel had hit the hanging tree and then grounded in shalllow water.  THe victims received injuries from impacting the tower, tree, and interior of vessel.