On May 29th, 2023 at approximately 1400 hrs EST, I was contacted by Ofc. 1 via telephone in reference to a single boat collision on Laurel River Lake.  Ofc. 1 advised Post 11 dispatchers received a call from Laurel County 911 informing that Passenger 2 stated the boat she was on had started to sink. Passenger 2 advised the vessel was pulled onto the shoreline near the mouth of Line Creek. 

Upon our arrival, I observed a  22ft Smoker Craft Sunship, displaying KY vessel registration, partially sunken with the stern of the vessel underwater. The bow of the vessel was beached on the shoreline. I spoke with Owner/Operator and Passenger 1, who stated earlier in the day they had hit a sandbar but did not observe any damage to the vessel so they continued to use the vessel. 

Approximately three hours later, they attempted to pull a tube with their juvenile children on it but the vessel would not come up on plane. At this time, Passenger 1 observed a stern compartment on the vessel collecting a large amount of water. They navigated to the shoreline while the vessel continued to take on water. When on the shoreline, they tied the front of the vessel to a near by tree in an attempt to keep it from sinking.

On days following the incident Ofc. 1 attempted to contact Operator via telephone to schedule a time to take photographs of the vessel while it was out of the water. He never received a response from Operator.

There were no reported injuries at the time of the incident. No alcohol or drug involvement was suspected.
LAUREL LAKE
WILLIAMSBURG                  