Operator1 was fishing on Wilson Lake near Town Creek on Friday (June 30, 2023) at about 11:00pm.  A storm moved into the area, and he started the engine and began traveling upriver toward his launch point at Safety Harbor Wheeler Dam Boat Ramp.  

The storm created wind and waves than came across the stern and put water into the vessel, then the engine died.  The vessel swamped then sank and Operator1 went into the water. 

 He used his type 3 PFD.  Another fisherman came to his aid and took him back to the boat ramp.  They left the vessel in the water.  The vessel was reported to Lawrence County 911 the morning of July 1 by other boaters.  I received notification through Quad Cities AST Dispatch at 6:30 am and arrived on site at 7:14 am.  The vessel showed signs of being recently used, so I began sonar scans in immediate area in case the operator and or passengers were in the water. 

 Lawrence County Sheriff Office Deputies went to the home of Operator1 and was able to contact him and verify that he was uninjured, and he was the only person onboard during the incident.  I recovered the vessel and towed it to Safety Harbor Boat Ramp.  Operator1 met me there and we loaded the vessel on his trailer.  I interviewed him about the incident, and he provided a written statement at that time.  He did not report the incident that evening because he said he didn’t' know who to report the incident to.  Once the vessel was on the trailer, I noticed that the engine had a nylon line from a bait fish net wrapped around the prop of the engine.  This may be the cause of the engine cutting off, as it was wrapped consistent with occurring while under power.  Operator1 lost fishing equipment in the incident and there may be additional damage to the vessel from being underwater.

Wilson Lake
Town Creek                    