10/26/2023 dispatched approximately 1600hrs: I received a call from Sgt., advising there was a possible boat accident with injuries near the Gallatin/Boone County line on Big South Fork Creek. Gallatin County Dispatch received the initial 911 call. Gallatin County Sheriff was on scene. I contacted Sheriff and he advised that three subjects had been ejected from their boat, into the creek. Two males had initially ended up in the water and a woman had been trapped under the boat for possibly ten to fifteen minutes. The female victim, 61-year-old was transported to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Florence.  The two males refused treatment and were released from the scene. 

1706 hrs 620 South Fork Road: I arrived at the location of the boat accident and met Sheriff. Sheriff took me to the accident scene and provided me with identifying information of the individuals involved.  At this time I learned of a bystander, who had jumped into the water to assist the distressed boaters. Bystander had been working on his property when he heard a loud boat coming up the creek.  He thought from the sounds they were going too fast for the area.  

Bystander then thought he heard the boat slow down and then it got quiet.  He ran to the creek where he observed the boat overturned in the creek. Two men were outside the boat and told him a woman was still under the capsized boat. Bystander said he  yelled for someone to call 911 and jumped into the creek to try to help the men roll the boat over to get her out.  They were unsuccessful.  Bystander stated he suspected it was ten to fifteen minutes before they were able to pull Victim out from under the boat. 

Bystander believed she was caught on something but could not be sure. Bystander said when they pulled her out, a blue personal floatation device (PFD) popped out with her.  According to the two males on the boat, she had been wearing that PFD while on the boat.  Bystander and the men pulled her onto the overturned boat and attempted CPR. Bystander said she had thrown up water twice but they couldn't get her to breathe. Gallatin County EMS had then arrived on scene and helped get the woman and men out of the creek. Bystander stated the water was extremely cold. 

Sheriff stated Verona EMS director had taken the two men back to Boone's Landing for them to pick up their truck and trailer. Sheriff also said the men were too distressed to drive, so the EMS director took the men to drop off the trailer and truck. They believe both men were going to St. Elizabeth's to be with the victim. Sheriff stated he had not smelled any odor of alcoholic beverage from their persons and did not believe either of them to be under the influence. I attempted to call both men in the accident to try to meet up with them.

1830 hrs St. Elizabeth's Hospital Florence, KY Sgt. and I arrived at the Hospital to interview the boat operator, Operator, and the male passenger, Ralph Occupant. Operator and Occupant were in separate rooms and Occupant was being checked for signs of hypothermia. The female was in the ICU wing of the hospital. Sgt. interviewed Occupant while I stepped out and interviewed Operator. 

Operator said that the three wanted to take one last ride in his air boat this year. Victim was visiting and wanted to visit the site of a sunken houseboat on Big South Fork Creek. The three launched at Boone's Landing around 1pm. 

Victim was sitting next to Operator and Occupant was in the seat in front of them. The weather at the time was clear and the water was calm. Operator said they had headed up Big South Fork Creek from Big Boone Bone Creek, when he believed he saw a log in the creek. 

Operator said he slowed down and started to make a right hand turn when the next thing he knew he was in the water. Operator said he saw Occupant and was yelling at him trying to figure out where Victim was. They discovered she was trapped under the boat. A bystander then jumped in and tried to help them get her out. Operator said she was under for a long time, and all they could do was grab her leg, she seemed to be caught on something. When they got her out they tried to perform CPR until EMS arrived.  Operator said Victim was wearing a lifejacket. Operator also had mentioned he was not familiar with that part of the creek. 

Sgt. interviewed Occupant. Sgt. had informed me that Occupant was in the front seat and Operator was in the back driving with Victim in the backseat next to him. They were going up the creek when Operator slowed down and made a turn. Occupant thinks what happened was the wake from slowing the boat down and the turn caused the water to come over the low gunwale causing the boat to become swamped and then rolled. Family members of Operator and Occupant were at the hospital and informed us Victim was taken to the ICU. Her family had been notified and were on their way to the hospital.  At that time Victim was stated to have had a pulse but minimal brain activity.

10/27/2023 0047hrs: The air boat was recovered and pictures were taken. The arm rest of the seat where Victim had been seated was broken. Sgt. and I then left the scene. Mosby's Towing took the boat to their lot in Campbellsburg, KY. 

10/27/2023 Photographs were taken at Mosby's towing lot. I spoke with Operator and he had stated that he had put a new motor on the airboat and it had only been out an estimated six hours. Operator also stated the armrest in the backseat where victim was sitting was not broken prior to the accident. I also returned Operators cell phone that was located in the airboat. 

11/10/2023 took the vessel to be weighed at the weigh station in Pendleton. The vessel weighed 2760lbs.

The report indicated no non-fatal injuries.  The subjects travelled to the hospital to be with the victim.
BIG SOUTH FORK CREEK
VERONA                        