On February 13, 2023, at approximately 7:25 P.M. I received a call from the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department. Subject stated a vessel struck some type of debris in the water on the Flint River and was taking on water. He stated the operators boat made it to shore of the river before the vessel could sink.  Subject said the operator and occupant were standing on the river shore with the vessel uninjured.


Upon my arrival at the location of the vessel, I asked the operator to explain what happened. Operator stated he was traveling south. Operator said just before he got to the Dothan Road Bridge, down from Elberta Crate, his vessel struck some type of debris in the river. I asked Operator if he saw what he struck and he advised he did not. Operator stated after his vessel struck the debris it started taking on water. Operator stated he made it to the shore before the vessel could sank. Operator and his friends pumped some of the water out of the vessel. They winched it up on the riverbank so it would not float away. As they pulled the vessel up on the riverbank there was a noticeable four foot long, six-inch-wide hole in the hull underneath the port side of the vessel, due to hitting the debris.


After speaking with Operator, I spoke to the occupant of the vessel. I asked Occupant to explain what happened.  Occupant stated they were headed south and just before the bridge they struck something in the river. I asked if he saw what they struck in the river and Occupant said he did not see anything. After collecting all their information from Operator and Occupant, Operator stated they would get the vessel to the Earl Maye Boat Basin the next day. I photographed the damage to the vessel on February 19, 2023, at Operator residence. While taking photos of the damage. I asked Operator if he was going to repair his vessel. Operator stated he took the vessel to a fiberglass shop, and they said it could not be repaired due to where the damage was located.

Lake Seminole
BAINBRIDGE                    