On 6/10/2023 I responded to a call about a boating accident with bodily injuries at the John’s Lake Boat ramp area of the Neches River in Hardin County, Texas. When I arrived, the operator, who I later identified, had already left the scene for the hospital due to his injuries. The only passenger who I identified, was still on scene. I interviewed him and he said he didn’t know who was driving and didn’t remember getting in a boating accident. He stated that he remembered O1 was driving the boat earlier that day. Later that evening, injured was taken to the hospital by family members and was treated and released. I interviewed O1 at the hospital and he admitted to operating the vessel during the accident. He stated he was heading West toward the John’s Lake boat ramp from the main river when he hit a submerged object in the river which he didn’t see, and that caused his boat to change direction and strike a tree in the water head on. 

He said he was ejected due to the impact. He was able to get in the boat and operate it to the boat ramp area and was taken to the hospital by friends. He was treated and released the same day. He admitted to dinking alcohol and I had probable cause to believe he was intoxicated and obtained a consensual blood sample.  The blood sample was sent to the DPS crime lab and is pending analysis to determine if charges for BWI will be presented.  The next day, I escorted him out to the crash area and had him show me exactly where it occurred. I could clearly see recent damage to a tree in the water where his boat had made contact. There was nothing in the water I could see that him could have hit causing him to lose control. The water level had dropped approximately 2 feet since the day prior, so anything that was under the water the day before would have been exposed.
1402 NECHES RIVER
silsbee                       