On 5/29/2023 at approximately 1726 hours I Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer First Class was dispatched to Garrett Regional Medical Center for a propeller strike that occurred on Deep Creek Lake. On arrival, I made contact with the victim. Victim had a deep cut in his right thigh approximately 4 inches long and 1 inch deep requiring approximately 20 stitches.  

I asked Victim what happened, he stated "I was tubing and fell off, when I swam around to the ladder I bumped the motor with my leg cutting it." Victim also stated the boat was in neutral when he was near the engine. Once Victim was onboard the vessel his leg was immediately wrapped with a towel to help control the bleeding. The group immediately returned to their dock a few hundred yards away to take Victim by personal vehicle to Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland Maryland. 

I interviewed one of the occupants aboard the vessel. Subject1 stated she was an observer on the vessel when the accident happened. Subject1 stated that Victim was tubing, fell off the tube, and swam to the back of the boat. When he got out his leg hit the propeller cutting it. Subject1 also stated the boat was in neutral when Victim was near the boat. 

I responded to the location of the docked vessel and the rest of the group aboard the vessel. I made contact with the operator of the vessel. I asked Operator what happened. Operator stated they were tubing out in front of their dock, there were two people on the tube. Victim fell off the tube and Operator turned around to pick him up. Operator stated she put the boat in neutral for Victim to board the rear ladder. I asked if the vessel remained running while Victim was boarding and Operator stated the engine was running. I asked Operator if she had any alcohol, and she stated she did not. I could not detect an odor of alcohol and no indication of impairment throughout her actions or speech. The vessel a 2018 Bennington Pontoon boat was in proper working order after the incident with no indication of mechanical malfunction. I issued Operator a warning for negligent operation of a vessel and explained to the group proper safety instructions for boarding a vessel.

All of the above occurred in Garrett County Maryland 
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Deep Creek Lake
Swanton                       