At approximately 5:55 pm, O1 was driving a 2018 16-foot 8-inch Bass Tracker with Texas registration from the main boat ramp toward the dam on Lake Alan Henry, Garza County, Texas.  O1 was on plane, going approximately 30 to 35 miles per hour, completing a slow turn toward the starboard side when he became distracted trying to locate a pair of gloves between the seats.  While looking for the gloves, O1 unknowingly turned the steering wheel further toward the starboard, causing the vessel to turn sharper and collide with the rock cliffs on the south side of the channel, running the vessel aground, and wedging the front starboard edge under a sandstone rock.  On the vessel with O1 were his daughter, and one other.  All three were wearing United States Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices.

Injured 1 was seated on the passenger seat to the left of Operator and facing forward.  Injured 2 was seated between Operator and 1 and facing toward the rear of the vessel with her back against the front deck.  At the time of the collision, there was a dead tree limb hanging over the water; 2 impacted the limb just prior to the vessel colliding with the same limb and pushing it to the port side and under the vessel.  The impact with the limb caused a gash on the right side of her head from her cheek bone to above her ear, severing a facial artery, and nicking a facial nerve.  She was ejected to the port side of the vessel and landed on the rocks.  O1 remained in his seat and the right side of his jaw impacted the steering console. 

On Thursday, March 16, 2023, O1 emailed Investigator a voluntary written statement regarding events leading up to the collision, during the collision, and after the collision.  In the statement he stated:

“As we passed the buoys, indicating we had exited the “No Wake Zone”, I turned to look all around us and ensure I could safely increase the speed of the boat and there were no other vessels near us.  As I observed we were clear from any other vessels, I asked the girls if they were ready.  Both of them laughed and said yes.  I slowly increased the speed of the boat to full throttle, reaching an approximate speed of 30 to 35 mph.  I am uncertain of a more accurate speed, due to the boat not having a speedometer.  This would have been around 1745 to 1750, approximately.  I ensured there was sufficient clearance from either shoreline, as the lake level was low.  1 was laughing loudly, due to being excited.  2 was laughing as well, but not as loudly.  My fingers started to get cold, due to the lower air temperature and moving through the open air.  At this time, I remembered my gloves, and looked to the left, between the cooler bags where I remembered placing them.  I made a comment about not seeing my gloves, and 1 asked me where I put them.  I looked back up and we were still a sufficient distance from the shoreline.  I replied to her, telling her I put them between the cooler bags.  I turned to look again, and did not see the gloves.  At this point, I do not know what happened.  

“The next thing I remember, I looked up to see 1 sitting on the bow with blood on the right side of her head and face.  I observed 2 climbing back into the bow of the boat, and heard her yelling something, but I did not know what she was yelling at the time.”

Further down in the voluntary statement, O1 states, “After thinking about what could have happened to cause the crash, I came to the conclusion with the only logical explanation being I inadvertently turned the wheel to the right when I looked to the left the second time.  I cannot think of any other logical explanation for the events.”

1 started yelling for help while O2 tended to 2 wound and called 9-1-1.  A good Samaritan was flagged over who then transported them to shore.  All three were transported by ambulance to Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.

The vessel was bowed in on the starboard front side and all the gear inside the vessel was shifted forward.  The bow eye was slightly canted toward the port side.  There was blood splatter on the tree limb that caused the laceration to her head.  The vessel was wedged under a large sandstone rock and the front starboard edge was crushed inward. The motor was turn slightly to the starboard side, indicating a shallow turn.  The striations on the bottom of the vessel we in line with the keel, indicating the vessel was not in a sharp turn.  RPM gauge was pinned at 5200 RPMs, indicating the vessel was going at a high rate of speed at the time of the collision.  The Lowrance electronic device was broken off its mount.

Injuries
-Operator: bruising to the right jaw and right side of the neck
-1: bruising to back and hip
-2: gash on right temple between cheek bone and ear, severed facial artery, nicked facial nerve

Based on weather history obtained from the nearest reporting station in Lubbock International Airport, Lubbock, Texas (approximately 60 air miles to the northwest), the prevailing winds were out of the southeast at 20 miles per hour.  The temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit, the water temperature was between 55- and 60-degrees Fahrenheit.  Weather conditions were mostly cloudy.  Sunset was at 7:51 pm.  Boat traffic was light, waves were moderate, between 6- and 12-inches high.

The lake level is 10.8 feet below the conservation pool level as of March 19, 2023, and the lake is at 72.4 percent capacity.  Approximate width for the channel at the narrowest point is 647 feet.

Cause

Primary: Operation inattention
Secondary: No proper lookout
Secondary: Careless/Negligent operation

Boating experience for Operator

MSEO certified through TPWD 2013
Patrolled Lake Alan Henry 2013-2021 with Lubbock Police Department in a Triton
Zodiac training with USMC
This vessel, 10 outings

Coast Guard Rules of the Road

Rule 5 - Lookout 
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision

Rule 6 - Safe Speed 
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. In determining a safe speed the following factors shall be among those taken into account:
(a) By all vessels:
    (i)   The state of visibility;
    (ii)  The traffic density including concentrations of fishing vessels or any other vessels;
    (iii) The maneuverability of the vessel with special reference to stopping distance and turning ability in the prevailing conditions;
    (iv) At night, the presence of background light such as from shore lights or from back scatter from her own lights;
    (v) The state of wind, sea and current, and the proximity of navigational hazards;
    (vi) The draft in relation to the available depth of water.

Texas Parks and Wildlife, Chapter 31: Water Safety

Sec. 31.094. RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT OPERATION. No person may operate any motorboat or vessel or manipulate any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device in a wilfully or wantonly reckless or negligent manner that endangers the life, limb, or property of any person.
0006 ALAN HENRY
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