On the night of June 24, 2023 at approximately 2230 hours, vessel 2 and vessel 3 were tied up together drifting in the middle of Cheney Reservoir in between sail boat cove and "party cove."   

There were 3 occupants on vessel 2 and 3 occupants on vessel 3.  There were also 7 people swimming around the two vessels.  Vessel 1 was cruising on plane towards the two drifting vessels.  

Vessel 1 was about to strike vessel 2 on the middle of the starboard side of the vessel when the operator of vessel 1 noticed the other vessels and turned to the left.  

Vessel 1 struck the starboard side of vessel 2 towards the stern of the vessel and at an angle.  Vessel 1 went over the rear, starboard corner of vessel 2 and struck the outboard motor on vessel 2, almost tearing the motor off. 

 A female from vessel 1 and a female from vessel 2 were ejected when the collision occurred.  The other two occupants of vessel 2 jumped off the vessel in to the water just as the impact occurred.  A female occupant on Vessel 1 was asleep in the cabin of the boat and had a laceration on her chin from the collision that required stitches.  

A male subject on vessel 3 was thrown to the floor of the vessel and later sought medical attention for a torn ligament in his ankle.  Vessel 1 had fiberglass damage to the hull of the vessel and possible motor issues. Vessel 2 had damage to the railing, seating, platform, and outboard motor on the rear starboard corner of the vessel.  All vessels made it back to the ramp near O'brien's Marina.  

Cheney State Park Rangers were waiting on the vessels when they arrived.  Ranger arrested the operator of Vessel 1 for Boating Under the Influence.  Operator1 was transported to Reno County jail.  Witnesses from vessels 2 and 3 state that both vessels 2 and 3 had their anchor/360 lights and navigation lights on their vessels.  

The operator of vessel 1 states that vessels 2 and 3 did not have any lights on and he did not see them until right before the collision.  Operator of vessel 1 stated that he thought he was going 30-40 mph when the collision occurred.
Cheney Reservoir
Cheney                        