On October 29, 2023 at approximately 1900hrs, I was notified by a third party individual of a boating accident that occurred on the Cumberland River in Clay County.  The caller indicated that two fishermen were on the Cumberland river in a 16 Hyde Drift Boat and were sinking.  

I called Clay County Dispatch to seek further information.  Dispatch advised that there was a boating accident occurring but could not provide a location, description of the vessel, or the names of the people in distress.  I then notified TWRA Region 3 Dispatch of the accident and proceeded en route to Donaldson Park boat ramp in Celina.  

Upon arriving on scene, Clay County Rescue Squad had made contact with the two individuals on the Cumberland River near Henry Boyd Rd.  The two individuals were floating on the plastic gas tank that was left from the boat after it had taken on water and sank.  

Rescue Squad members then transported both back to Donaldson Park boat ramp to be treated by EMS.  Both patients were hypothermic and transported to Livingston Regional Hospital for treatment.  I then cleared the scene and went to the hospital and obtained written statements from both Operator and Occupant.  

Both indicated that they missed their take out after fishing in the Obey River near Dale Hollow Dam.  They proceeded down stream and went into the Cumberland River realizing that they had missed their takeout. Occupant pulled up GPS on her mobile phone to find their way back to the Donaldson Park boat ramp.  When she stood up and sat down near the stern of the vessel with Operator, the boat started to take on water due to improper loading.  Water then rushed in, and the boat was swamped and sank near Henry Boyd rd in the Cumberland River.  No alcohol or drug use was suspected in the accident and life jackets were aboard the vessel but not worn by the operator or occupant.  Both subjects were treated for hypothermia and kept overnight at Livingston Regional Hospital.

CUMBERLAND RIVER
CELINA                        