On April 22, 2023 at approximately 13:00 a vessel containing two individuals was traveling south near mile marker 240 heading towards flippers boat ramp for a fishing tournament weigh in. 

While traveling at approximately 60mph the operator stated that the boat started to turn to the left involuntarily. The operator attempted to steer the vessel back to the right when allegedly the boat caught, and made the boat turn at a hard left angle ejecting the operator into the water. 

The operator was wearing a kill switch as well as an inflatable life jacket. The kill switch got stuck in the throttle and ripped off of the operator’s lifejacket which in turn did not engage the kill switch to turn the motor off. 

The operator’s lifejacket also did not deploy. The damage to the vessel was a torn operators console, and a torn off lower unit. There were no injuries and the vessel was towed back to Flippers Boat ramp by a fellow angler in the fishing tournament.
OLD HICKORY RESERVOIR
GALLATIN                      