SYNOPSIS:

On June 30th at approximately 1200 hours I received a report of a vessel crash at the Personal Watercraft Ramp.

NARRATIVE:

On June 30th at approximately 1200 hours I received a report of a vessel crash at the Personal Watercraft Ramp. I called the reporting party and he stated that he and a friend had been fishing on the lake and saw a small vessel heading toward them. He stated that there were trolling and so were going about 1 mile an hour. He stated that they noticed that the vessel coming toward them was going approximately 10-15mph. He stated that  was not changing direction and wasn't slowing down. They stood up in their vessel and started yelling and waving their arms to get the drivers attention but they didn't see the driver look up. Initially Operator stated that he thought the driver was on his phone. It was later discovered that he was trying to fix the fuel line. Operator stated that there were three young children in the vessel. Operator stated that the boat never changed course and ran straight into the side of his boat. He stated that the gunwale bent to about 90 degrees and that it was the only thing that stopped the vessel from running over the top of his boat. He stated that no one was hurt and that he and the driver exchanged information. 

When I asked Operator 1 about the damage to his boat he sent me several pictures and stated that "There is a pretty good dent, some paint damage and molding damage. The down rigger mast appears to be bent." He also stated that he suspects that there is some structural damage/stress fractures where the gunwale welds to the side. He is going to take it to the Crestliner dealer to assess damage.

I then went and talked to Park City Sailing. I contacted the supervisor for the day. He stated that no one was injured, that the children's parents had been contacted and that Operator 2 was shaken up but was unhurt. I asked how old he was and he told me that he was 15. I informed him that if you are under 16 and have your boaters permit you still need to be under the supervision of an adult while driving a boat. I asked Operator 2 what had happened and he stated that he had been messing with the fuel line while driving the vessel and hadn't been aware of his surroundings. Parent was out on the lake at the time and so I did not get a chance to talk to him. 

I asked Operator 2 about the damage to the vessel and he stated that it was most likely totaled. I waited until they pulled the damaged vessel and took several photos of it. The front end was heavily damaged and the gunwale was torn off the bow of the boat.

I gathered all the applicable information and left the scene shortly after.


THE END
Jordanelle Reservoir
heber                         