On 05/20/2023 at approximately 6:30 PM conservation Officer (CO) 1 was dispatched to Lake Regional Healthcare (LRH) to take the report of a boating incident resulting in a minor injury.  CO 1 arrived at LRH and spoke with the involved parties, V1 Operator and V2 Operator.  CO 1 learned the incident occurred in the Browns Bay area of West Lake Okoboji about 50 yards from the dock.  V1 Operator was operating a black-colored Seadoo Spark, and was traveling westward toward the dock.  V2 Operator was operating a black and orange-colored Seadoo GTX, with V2 Passenger as a passenger.  The GTX was traveling eastward, away from the dock.  Both operators were approaching one another port side to port side at idling speeds in order to talk.  As the GTX and the Spark were approaching one another, an unidentified boat allegedly sped by, creating a large wake.  The large wake caused the bow of the Spark to ride up onto the port of the GTX.  The overriding maneuver of the Spark onto the GTX resulted in V2 Operator's left pinky finger being pinched between the bow of the Spark and the handlebar of the GTX.  Both operators and the passenger quickly got back to the dock, put the Spark and GTX into hoists, and transported V2 Operator to Lake Regional Healthcare Emergency Room.  V2 Operator explained his left pinky was lacerated and was broken in several places.
West Okoboji Lake
Milford                       