On August 26th, 2023, at approximately 17:30 hrs, a call about a sinking jet ski near boat ramp 3 on Clinton lake came out over the radio. Game warden 1 had just got off the water and put up the boat. Game warden 1 quickly returned to the marina and put the boat back in the water. Game warden 1 was crossing the lake when he heard the victim had already been picked up by another boat and taken to boat ramp 3. Game warden 1 responded to boat ramp 3 and talked to the victim, Operator. Operator turned down ems and said he had no injuries. Operator said that he was out riding his jet ski when the wind and waves picked up, so he started returning to boat ramp 3. Operator estimated he was traveling 20-25 mph and tried to head through what he thought was a gap in the flooded trees. Operator stated that a wave picked him up and set him down directly on top of a submerged tree. Operator said the tree was just below the water line, not visible at all. The jet ski was stuck on the tree until another wave picked up the ski again and got it off of the tree. Operator tried to keep heading towards the boat ramp but the motor quickly died and would not start. The jet ski also appeared to be taking on water and sinking. Operator who was wearing a pfd, swam the jet ski to a nearby tree sticking out of the water and tied the jet ski to the tree. Operator then held onto the tree and called 911 on his cell phone. Operator was eventually picked up by a civillian boat and then transferred to a rescue boat before being taken back to boat ramp 3. Game warden 1 went over to where the jet ski was tied and was able to tow the vessel back to boat ramp 3 and secure it to the boat ramp, Operator had lost his truck keys in the lake and so had to get a ride back to his house to get his spare keys. Operator returned later and was able to load the jet ski back onto his trailer. The jet ski had a hole in it on the underside near the intake where the tree had penetrated it. At this time Operator has not recieved an estimate on the damage but believes that the damage is more than $2000. Game warden 1 talked to Operator a few days after the accident. Operator informed Game warden 1 that he had developed a bruise on his right knee and was having a lot of pain in the knee. Operator said he had an MRI scheduled to get the knee looked at. Operator was unsure if the knee was hurt from hitting the tree, the jet ski, or the water. Nothing further to report at this time.
Clinton Reservoir
Lawrence                      