On July 08, 2023, at approximately 1255 hours, Corporal received a call about a boating incident at Highland Marina on West Point Lake. No injuries were reported but there was damage to both vessels involved. I, Game Warden was notified by Cpl. and arrived first on scene at approximately 1352 hours. Upon arrival, I met with a Highland Marina staff member to discuss the incident. She informed me that two vessels were involved in the incident. Her concern was the striking vessel because it was a Highland Marina rental vessel that was just rented for the day. She wanted to be sure a report was done for insurance purposes. After speaking with the staff member, I talked to the owner/operator of the vessel that was struck.

The owner/operator of the Starcraft (V01) that was struck quickly explained the incident upon my arrival. Subject1 explained that he and his wife were docked in their vessel at a boat slip at Highland Marina when they noticed a pontoon boat behind them. The pontoon boat was later identified as the Trifecta pontoon (V02), rented to operator2. 

Subject1 explained to me that Operator2 was drifting in reverse behind him as they pulled out of the dock slip. While behind Subject1’s vessel (V01), Operator2 put the vessel in forward gear and quickly jolted the vessel forward towards V01. 

At the point when Operator2 realized what happened, she took it out of forward gear. The forward momentum was too great and V02 struck V01 on the motor and rear starboard side. The damage sustained on V01 included chipping of the fiberglass on the rear starboard corner of the vessel, detached corner of the seadeck, and a scratch going across the cowling of the outboard. The damage sustained on V02 was a disconnected rub rail on the starboard side and dent in the aluminum rail on the front starboard corner of the vessel.

No further damage was found by our investigation. Cpl. informed me that Operator2 told him that the throttle was sticking in reverse and that is what caused her to loose control. Cpl. examined the throttle and found no obvious issues to cause lack of control.

-Interviews with vessel operators and parties involved recorded on body worn camera.

West Point Lake
LAGRANGE                      