Accident report:

Based on witness statements, the damage to both vessels and damage to the pillar I believe that vessel #1 and vessel #2 were traveling North East at Starvation reservoir after just leaving the Lake View RV's water access area. Vessel #1 was traveling parallel to vessel #2 as they approached the pillars that support the Highway 40 bridge in the reservoir. 

Vessel #1 was ahead of vessel #2 but was still parallel. After passing the pillar, the left vessel #1 hooked hard to the left without adequately looking and found himself head on with vessel #2. Vessel #1's bow collided with vessel #2's bow with initial contact. Vessel #1 was redirected by vessel #2 towards the 3rd pillar from the east. 

Vessel #1 then collided with the pillar making first contact at the passenger side bow. The estimated speed of vessel #1 at time of impact was 20 miles per hour. The estimated speed of vessel #2 was 30 miles per hour at time of impact. 

Synopsis:
On Saturday June 24, 2023 roughly between 19;30 hours and 20:30 hours two boats collided head on at Starvation State Park Reservoir near the Freedom Bridge Highway 40 overpass. Operator1 was the operator of a 1989 Mirage and made a hard hook turn to his left and found himself head on with the operator of a 2005 Cobalt. The two boats collide at their bows, the force of the collision sent Operator1 and his boat in to the pillar supporting the Highway 40 bridge. Operator1 received a laceration to his upper left arm. Operator1 was taken to the Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt Ut. He received multiple stitches to repair muscle and skin. The accident was not reported until roughly 02:00 hours the next day June 25.

Narrative:
On Sunday morning roughly 00:30 hours June 25 Ranger and Myself Ranger were notified by Vernal dispatch of a boat accident that happened at Starvation near the bridge earlier in the day. An anonymous caller who reported the accident stated the people involved the accident were camping somewhere near the Lake. 

Ranger searched for the boats and camps with the patrol boat while I searched on land in my patrol vehicle. Searched for the boats for nearly 2 hours when we received information from dispatch "roughly around 02:00 " that the party involved in the accident called to report the accident. Dispatch informed me they were staying at Lake Side RV CamperWorld.    

I located the individuals that were involved in the accident roughly around 02:30 hours. Operator1 and Operator2 who were the drivers of the 2 boats that collided met me at the campsite. I took both Operator2 and Operator1s witness statements. Initially when I asked them if they had been drinking they told me that they had not any alcoholic beverages. However after further questioning they both admitted to having an alcoholic beverage beer at lunch. I asked them where there boats were located and they told be that they were anchored to the shore done by the CamperWorld access to the reservoir. I found both boats anchored to the shore behind some trees and they were not visible from the road. I took some pictures verified that they were boats involved. Ranger found where the boat Operator1 was driving crashed in the bridge pillar. After taking pictures of the boats I went back the campsite and told Operator1 and Operator2 that I would came back later in the morning and tow their boats to boat ramp on the other side of the lake and continue the investigation.

Later that morning roughly 10:00 hours I met both Operator1 and Operator2 at their boats to tow them to the boat ramp. Operator2's Boat was still operable and he drove his boat to the ramp. I towed Operator1's boat to the ramp. Once we got both boats off the water I took systematic pictures and concluded that both operators were at fault and cited both of them for failure to maintain proper lookout and Speed and Proximity. I also charged them with not immediately reporting the accident. I also believed that Operator1 was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. I submitted an E-Warrant for Operator1s blood that was taken at the hospital. In the Probable Cause Statement in the E-Warrant I explained to the judge that the accident was not reported until 6 hours after the accident had happened and that he had admitted to drinking. I also explained that it was a boat accident involving serious injury. The Warrant was rejected without reason. I contacted a Duchesne County attorney and was told that the particular 8th district judge was known for rejecting E-Warrants without cause. I was unable to get the blood for testing. The passenger of Vessel #1 was identified later in the morning and because he was the son of Operator2 I was confused as to what vessel he was a passenger of. I confirmed later in the investigation that he was a passenger of Operator1's vessel. He sustained no injuries and was seated portside facing toward the stern at the time of the accident.

Starvation Reservoir
Duchesne                      