On 08/12/2023, at approximately 11:02PM, I, CPO 1, was contacted by Shelby County dispatch about a possible
boat accident. A camper at Lithia Springs campground heard a boat crash and several people yelling, the boat started up and headed South on Lake Shelbyville. City and County units checked the area for the vessel and any injured parties.

The vessel, a 1997 red and white Rinker bearing Illinois registration was located at 9th street boat ramp by a
Shelbville Police Officer. The operator, later identified as Operator, and his to passengers identified as Passenger 2 and Passenger 1 initially pulled away from the dock once they saw the Officer, but immediately turned around due to Passenger 1's injuries. Passenger 1 suffered a laceration to his buttocks and was transported to St. Johns Hospital in Springfield for surgery.

I arrived on scene at 11:55pm and talked with Operator. Operator stated he had fallen asleep and impacted shore in his vessel traveling 35-40 MPH. Operator and Passenger 1 were ejected from the vessel.

It was later determined that Operator fell asleep while his vessel was heading South East, struck a rock erosion structure on the port side of the vessel, sending the vessel into the air, and ejecting Operator and Passenger 1 from the vessel. Passenger 1 struck an object after being ejected causing his injuries. The vessel then struck a second rock erosion structure after the initial collision. Passenger 1 was sleeping in the front starboard side of the vessel at the time of the impact and Passenger 2 was sleeping along the rear seat of the vessel at the time of the impact. Operator and Passenger 1 swam back to the vessel and climbed inside. The accident occurred just North of campsite 71 at Lithia Springs Campground.

I ran Operator through Seated Field Sobriety Tests, and arrested Operator for careless operation and operating under the influence of alcohol, at 12:25pm. Operator initially
refused medical treatment but later complained of difficulty breathing. I contacted dispatch for an ambulance and Operator was transported to Good Shepard Hospital in Shelbyville.IL.

CPO 2, a level 2 boat accident investigator, documented the damage of the vessel as well as the accident location in the morning hours of 08/13/2023. Those photographs will be attached to the final report.
Lake Shelbyville
Shelbyville                   